( CNN ) -- China will sometimes say `` no '' and the world should get used to it . That message came through last weekend when China , one of five permanent U.N. Security Council members , joined Russia in blocking action on Syria . Their vetoes derailed a draft resolution condemning Syrian President Bashar al-Assad 's 11-month-old attempt to crush opposition groups and demanding an end to attacks on peaceful protesters . `` Do not mistakenly think that because China takes a careful and responsible position on this [ Syria ] issue , China will not use its veto power or will always abstain , '' said Cui Tiankai , China 's vice foreign minister . `` When China must use its veto power , it will surely use it . '' On Saturday , Susan Rice , the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations , called the vetoes `` disgusting and shameful . '' `` Those that have blocked potentially the last effort to resolve this peacefully ... will have any future blood spill on their hands , '' she said after the voting . But Cui said there is nothing unusual for the five permanent members of the Security Council to disagree on certain issues . Speaking at a press briefing Thursday on the eve of a visit to the United States by Xi Jinping , the Chinese vice president , Cui said America 's displeasure over China 's veto will not affect China-U.S. cooperation on other international issues . In China , the veto was hailed by local media as a significant change in Beijing 's diplomatic tack . `` Abstaining is no longer always a choice as China is forced to speak out , '' according to an editorial in the state-run Global Times , an official English-language daily . `` China needs to speak out . Hiding its true thinking does not help avoid trouble . '' The Global Times said China 's veto does not indicate a China-Russia alliance . `` Both China and Russia have their own interests and dignity , '' it added . He Wenping , director of African Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences said the veto shows China 's confidence in foreign affairs . `` A country expressing its true opinion -- that 's progress , '' he said . So why did China use its veto this time ? `` China opposes the use of threat or force to achieve regime change in other countries , '' said He Wenping . `` This is consistent with China 's long-standing diplomacy principle . It is also not acceptable for China to rush a [ U.N. ] vote without sufficient consultation . '' China , she added , does not wish see a reprise of what she considers a debacle over Libya . `` On Libya , NATO misused the rights given by the U.N. resolution about setting up the no-fly zone , which was then turned into 'regime change ' in Libya , '' she said . Ruan Zongze , a senior researcher at the China Institute of International Studies , agreed : `` What concerns China most is possible regime change and foreign military intervention , '' he said . `` We ask the international community to give more space and time for dialogue within Syria . '' On February 6 , the state-run People 's Daily wrote in an editorial : `` It is Syrian people 's democratic right to choose a government they want . But hatred and separatists will remain a challenge no matter who is ruling , the government has to stabilize the country and protect people 's safety . It will still come down to the problem of peace among nations and tribes . '' China is ranked as the third-largest supplier of imports to Syria in 2010 , according to data from the European Commission . But local experts downplay the scale of China 's stakes and national interests in Syria . `` Compared with Russia , China does not have that much interest in Syria and in the Middle East , '' He Wenping said . `` Of course , in the greater Middle East , we need and we depend on the energy , say , the oil coming from the region . '' Liu Weimin , a spokesman for China 's Foreign Ministry , rejected criticisms of China 's veto . `` China does not have its own selfish interest on the issue of Syria , '' he said in a news conference . `` We do not deliberately shelter or oppose any country . Instead , we uphold justice in dealing with the issue . '' But China 's critics say China 's veto of the U.N. draft resolution was in part due to Beijing 's fear that allowing a regime change in Syria could encourage the spread of the Arab revolution and eventually threaten China . He Wenping disagrees . `` In my opinion , more than 99 % of Chinese do not want to see an Arab Spring revolution in China , and they do not believe that there will be one in China , '' she says . `` China has a completely different political system and economic development path . If someone in the international community thinks that the Arab Spring will happen in China , then I think they misjudge the situation in China , exaggerate some problems in the Chinese society and underestimate the ability of the Chinese government to control the situation in China . '' As to Ambassador Susan Rice 's blunt reaction to China 's and Russia 's vetoes , He Wenping quips : `` I think the statement shows utter lack of diplomatic protocol . The statement itself is disgusting . ''
China joined Russia in using its veto to block a U.N. Security Council draft resolution on Syria . China 's use of veto marks a significant change in Beijing 's diplomatic tack , local media says . Some analysts say the move shows Beijing 's fear that political upheaval will spread to China .