Source: Global Post
The divide between the countries that oppose military intervention in Syria and those that are pushing for it is expected to stoke tension at Thursday’s G20 meeting.
China warned Thursday that a military intervention in Syria would hurt the global economy, as 20 of the world’s biggest powers gathered for a G20 summit in the Russian city of St. Petersburg.
While the Syrian crisis isn’t officially on the agenda, disagreements over whether other countries should intervene are expected to dominate the two-day meeting. The United States and France have been pushing for air strikes, while Russia and now China have cautioned the West to hold off.
China said Thursday that a strike on Syria could push up oil prices, which would have negative effects for fragile economies after the 2008 financial crisis.
“Military action would have a negative impact on the global economy, especially on the oil price — it will cause a hike in the oil price,” said Chinese Vice Finance Minister Zhu Guangyao, according to Reuters.
Zhu said that a $10 rise in oil prices could push down global growth by 0.25 percent.
Back in Beijing, a foreign ministry spokesman added that unilateral strikes would violate international law.