New York, United States - January 26, 2025 A Chinese envoy on Sunday strongly condemned the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for attacking local people and the UN peacekeepers, demanding that it immediately stop the offensive. Speaking at an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the escalating violence in the eastern DRC, Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, also extended condolences to the UN peacekeepers who lost their lives and sympathy to the injured. At the meeting, Fu briefed the United Nations Security Council on the recent tensions in the eastern region of the African country, saying that the M23 has launched frequent offensives in North Kivu and occupies Masisi, Minova, Sake and other important towns in the country, causing a large number of civilian casualties and displacement. The Chinese envoy said the M23 rebels also launched shelling attacks on the camps of the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC, known as MONUSCO, killing three UN peacekeepers and injuring many others. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in the DRC also suffered heavy casualties. Tensions have been running high in DRC due to the recent advances by the M23 rebels in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. The rebels took control of Sake, a town considered the last defense for the government forces before Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province and a major regional hub. Fu noted that the international community should provide the needed humanitarian assistance in a timely manner, and the M23 movement must ensure the opening and smooth passage of humanitarian supplies. He also warned that the M23 Movement must not pose a threat to the safety of peacekeepers, and attacks on peacekeepers may amount to a war crime. The DRC has accused Rwanda of backing the M23 Movement rebels and announced the recall of its embassy staff in Rwanda on Jan 25. Fu said the Chinese side hopes that Bintou Keita, special representative of the UN Secretary-General in the DRC, and Xia Huang, UN special envoy of the UN secretary-general for the Great Lakes Region of Africa, will enhance coordination and provide greater support for the Luanda and Nairobi Processes. More than 400,000 people have been displaced since the start of 2025 in the eastern DRC, where conflicts between the Congolese army and armed groups have intensified. Shotlist: UN Headquarters, New York City - Jan 26, 2025: FILE: UN Headquarters, New York City - Date Unknown 1. United Nations headquarters; UN Headquarters, New York City - Jan 26, 2025 2. UN Security Council meeting in progress; 3. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations of UN, speaking via video link; 4. Bintou Keita, Special Representative of Secretary-General in DRC, speaking via video link; 5. Joyce Msuya, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, speaking; 6. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to UN (partially overlaid with shot 7): "China strongly urges the M23 Movement to immediately stop its attacks. All parties should give top priority to the protection of civilians, support MONUSCO in performing its duties in accordance with its mandate, and firmly back regional mediation efforts."; [SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 7. Various of meeting in progress; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] FILE: Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo - 2018 8. Cityscape; buildings, lake, trees; UN Headquarters, New York City - Jan 26, 2025 9. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to UN: "China calls on the M23 Movement to earnestly abide by the ceasefire agreement, stop resorting to force, withdraw from the occupied areas and return to the track of political settlement. Any external force should refrain from providing military support to armed groups such as the M23 Movement to prevent further deterioration of the situation."; FILE: Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo - 2018 10. Cityscape; buildings, lake, trees; FILE: Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo - 2018 11. Traffic, pedestrians, buildings; UN Headquarters, New York City - Jan 26, 2025 12. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to UN: "China hopes that the DRC and Rwanda will adhere to the channel of diplomatic dialogue, strengthen communication and find a lasting peace plan."; FILE: Kinshasa, DR Congo - Jan 11, 2019 13. Street scenes, pedestrians; UN Headquarters, New York City - Jan 26, 2025 14. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to UN: "China reaffirms its firm support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC and the government efforts to safeguard national security. China supports the Security Council in sending out a united message as soon as possible so as to create favorable conditions for the de-escalation of the crisis in the eastern DRC and the maintenance of regional stability."; FILE: Kinshasa, DR Congo - Jan 11, 2019 15. Street scenes, pedestrians. [Restriction - For news purpose only/No archive/Not for other production use, No access Chinese mainland]