Shen Jiru, chief of the Division of International Strategics of the Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, made the remark in an exclusive interview with Xinhua.

Shen said the Iraq issue has caused an apparent split in the international community and organizations, such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the European Union and the United Nations.

Member countries of those organizations have been divided into two groups: either for a peaceful solution, or for military action against Iraq, Shen said.

He said the reason for the current situation goes deeper than a dispute on oil or economic interests, and is actually about the future model of international order: a multipolar and democratic one, or the US' strategic goal of a unipolar world.

If the military strike on Iraq by the United States is carried out smoothly and ended quickly, the United States could strengthen the trend of unilateralism in the world.

But in the long term view, a multipolar international communityis an "inevitable" momentum of history, Shen said.

The voices against the US stance of war show the United States has not yet established a US-dominated world order and other nations could be more convinced to say "no" to US decisions later, Shen said.

China has played a positive role on the issue and will continue to work for a new world order, or a democratic international community, with more confidence in the future, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 14, 2003)