(CNSNews.com) - As survivors of the devastating cyclone in Burma await life-saving international aid, China -- the closest ally of the military junta accused of hindering the humanitarian effort -- is insisting that the situation not be "politicized" by bringing in the U.N. Security Council.

China, a veto-wielding permanent member of the council, is leading opposition to Western calls to have the top U.N. body put pressure on the junta, even objecting to having U.N. humanitarian chief John Holmes brief the council about the crisis.

Six days after Cyclone Nargis hit Burma (also known as Myanmar), the junta has allowed some aid planes to land, but others await permission, and some humanitarian agencies say they are still struggling to get visa approval. The U.S., a leading critic of the regime, has naval assets in the region and supply planes waiting in Thailand, but has not been given the green light.

Amid growing frustration about the delays and hurdles and fears that the number of fatalities could reach 100,000, France has proposed that the situation merits consideration under a new concept adopted by world leaders as part of a broad U.N. reform effort in 2005.

The principle asserts an international "responsibility to protect" people from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing or crimes against humanity, where national governments fail to do so. This should be done through "appropriate diplomatic, humanitarian and other peaceful means," or where peaceful means are inadequate, through "collective action."

French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner raised the issue in Paris on Wednesday, suggesting that if the junta would not cooperate the U.N. should invoke the "responsibility to protect" and deliver aid without awaiting approval.

But as the concept agreed upon in 2005 and enshrined in a Security Council resolution the following year does not specifically refer to natural disasters, the French proposal has drawn objections.

"The current issue of Myanmar is a natural disaster," Beijing U.N. envoy Liu Zhenmin said, adding that the situation should not be politicized. "It's not an issue for the Security Council."

Several non-permanent members of the Security Council agreed. "There are other, better-equipped forums [than the council] to discuss the humanitarian dimension of the Myanmar situation," Indonesian ambassador Marty Natalegawa said.

Speaking to reporters at the U.N., French ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert expressed frustration.

"We think it is time for the Security Council to express its concern and ... to call on the government of Myanmar to open its borders and accept the access of humanitarian workers in conformity with international law. Unfortunately, it was not possible to achieve this goal because of the opposition of two or three countries around the table."

Asked about the view that the "responsibility to protect" was limited to genocide and war crimes, Ripert argued that "there is a unprecedented drama, disastrous situation in Myanmar."

"[The] primary responsibility is with the government of Myanmar, but if it fails or if it cannot, we have to do something. If we do not do anything, people will continue to die, epidemics will spread out, and it will be a disaster."

U.S. ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad also alluded to the "responsibility to protect" in his remarks to reporters on Thursday.

"It's clear that the government's ability to deal with the situation - which is catastrophic - is limited," he said.

"A government has responsibility to protect its own people, to provide for its people. And since it's not able to, you would expect the government to welcome assistance from others."

Khalilzad said the U.S. was "shocked by the behavior of the government. It should be a no-brainer to accept [offers of aid]."

The U.S. and Britain backed France's calls for Holmes to brief the council. The U.N. humanitarian chief told reporters that the situation in Burma was "increasingly desperate on the ground."

The U.N. estimates that some 1.5 million people are at risk. "An even worse tragedy may unfold if we cannot get the aid that's desperately needed in quickly," Holmes said.

Opportunity

"This cannot be categorized as just a natural disaster, because human failings have made it so much worse," Prof. Gary Woodard, a Burma specialist at Australia's Melbourne University and former Australian ambassador in Rangoon said Thursday.

"The junta have abjectly failed the test of the responsibility to protect," he said.

While critical of the junta for its handling of the cyclone crisis Woodard also had harsh words for governments that back the regime, describing them as preying "vulture like" on the country's rich resources and selling weapons to the military while ignoring the "willful neglect" of the Burmese people.

He said the unfolding tragedy may give the international community one more opportunity to press for the political change that was denied the Burmese when the military refused to accept the results of elections 18 years ago.

Military governments have ruled Burma since 1962. In 1990 the current junta allowed multiparty elections but when the National League for Democracy (NLD) of Aung San Suu Kyi won, the generals refused to relinquish power.

Suu Kyi, who won the Nobel peace prize in 1991, has been detained or under house arrest for more than 12 of the last 18 years.

"There is a chance, probably the last chance, while ... [Suu Kyi] remains alive, to move in an orderly way towards more responsible and responsive government," Woodard said.

"The Burmese regime's supporters might now be willing to consider that it would be in everyone's interests to grasp it."

China, which is Burma's northern neighbor, political ally and a key trading partner, has in the past shown itself reluctant to use its influence with the junta in a way that could be construed as interference in its internal affairs.

Last fall, Beijing opposed moves by the Security Council to condemn the regime over violent crushing of protests against fuel price hikes and military rule.

Nine months earlier, both China and Russia vetoed a U.S.-sponsored draft council resolution calling on the junta to stop persecuting political dissidents and ethnic minorities.

China has offered aid following the cyclone and says it has already started flying in humanitarian supplies. "We hope Myanmar will cooperate with the international community," foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a briefing in Beijing.

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