"We strongly urge the countries concerned to immediately halt their military actions," the often smiling and humorous Kong said, voicing China's position in a solemn tone. "The strike has violated the Charter of the United Nations and basic principles of international law."

In the past few months, China has consistently suggested a peaceful and political solution to the Iraq crisis within the UN framework. However, despite the hard efforts of China and other peace-loving nations, war still arrived uninvited.

"I believe this must be a comment Kong feels most reluctant to make, and a result I myself least want to know," said a Chinese reporter, who often comes to the press conference.

Two days ago, the United States issued an ultimatum, announcing the "diplomatic window" for solving the Iraq problem had closed. After nearly 50 tense hours, people across the world watched on TV the Tomahawk cruise missiles exploding above Baghdad.

In a Beijing office, 25-year-old Cao Jun received the breaking news through the short message service on his mobile phone. For a young man who has known war only in movies, Cao still can't understand how it could turn real overnight.

Robert Scgretti was among hundreds of people strolling around and enjoying the fresh air on Tian'anmen Square in the heart of Beijing. At the news of a military strike against Iraq, the American tourist said he was "not in favor of war," but "as a private citizen (of the United States), I can do nothing to stop the government."

The Chinese media has given full coverage to the developments in Iraq. Although the Xinhua New Agency has evacuated all its correspondents from that country, it is still releasing stories based on information from a local reporter. China Central Television has also broadcast a live show for domestic viewers. And China's major Internet websites lost no time in rolling out the latest developments.

Most websites carried the Foreign Ministry's statement in eye-catching headlines. Web users were greeted with comments like: "War will inevitably lead to humanitarian disasters and undermine the security, stability and development of the region and the world at large" and "The Chinese government is always committed to peace and stability in the world. We stand for settling international disputes by political means and reject the use or threat of force in international affairs."

"Each nation has its own stance. We support China's position," said Ran Huan, who works in an agency helping people study overseas.

Zhou Zunnan, an expert on international relations, said war was distressing and to be regretted, and people worldwide longed for peace. Compared with the last Gulf War, the US military actions had won far less global support. What's worse, such unilateral actions would escalate conflicts between the west and the Islamic world, and magnify the contradictions between the United States and those pro-multipolarization countries.

China has never stopped its diplomatic efforts even though war has broken out in Iraq. During a Thursday evening phone call with US Secretary of State Colin Powell, Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan once again stressed: "The common aspiration of the international community is to safeguard peace and oppose war." He urged an immediate halt to the US military operations in Iraq to avoid hurting innocent people and bring the Iraq issue back on the right path of a political solution.

Beijing is noted for its dry climate, but on Thursday afternoon it was suddenly caught in another cold downpour. "Is peace also feeling the cold?" a college student, Li Xuanna, asked herself.

(Xinhua News Agency March 21, 2003)