"Germany, the dominant economic power in Europe, has been increasingly irritated by the United Nations, which favors the victors of World War Two ... "Participation of German fighter-bombers in Yugoslavia as part of the NATO force this week was the first time the Luftwaffe has flown on the attack since 1945 -- symbolizing another step in Germany's rehabilitation from its Nazi past." Germany criticizes China, UN veto By Alastair Macdonald BONN (Reuters) - Germany's defense minister launched a sharp attack Friday on China and on the right of the established nuclear powers to block United Nations action in Yugoslavia and other crises. ``Can we forever tolerate that the world community live with the right of veto established due to the role of the nuclear powers and that, as a result, justice cannot be done?'' Rudolf Scharping asked parliament. He was responding to criticism by some on the German Left and abroad, notably in Russia and China, that the air strikes by the NATO Western alliance on Yugoslavia broke international law by attacking a sovereign state without a mandate from the U.N. Security Council. Scharping defended the NATO action by saying it was a humanitarian act intended to protect ethnic Albanians in Kosovo from attacks by Serb military forces. A U.N. mandate for it is out of the question, however, due to the fierce opposition of Moscow and Beijing, which enjoy permanent veto powers along with the three other established nuclear powers France, Britain and the United States. Nonetheless, Scharping said, NATO felt its attack had U.N. support since a clear majority of the 15-member Security Council expressed support for the action. China, Russia and one of the 10 rotating members of the Council, Namibia, have come out in opposition. Scharping singled out China for particular criticism, recalling its veto last month on a renewal of a mandate for a U.N. peacekeeping force in the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia and criticizing its record on human rights in Tibet. ``Is it justifiable that such a major power, because of its interests in Tibet, believes it can make the whole world accept ethnically based genocide simply because this takes place within the borders of a state?'' Scharping asked the chamber. Germany, the dominant economic power in Europe, has been increasingly irritated by the status quo at the United Nations which favors the victors of World War Two. Mindful of the sensitivities, it usually does not like to moderate criticisms. The participation of German fighter-bombers over Yugoslavia as part of the NATO force this week was the first time the Luftwaffe has flown on the attack since 1945 -- symbolizing another step in Germany's rehabilitation from its Nazi past.
