China to U.S.: Don’t go into Syria with force

China weighed in Monday on the possibility of the United States taking military action in Syria with this quick message: Don’t.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said that Washington officials had briefed Beijing heads on the situation, and that while China was most concerned about the use of chemical weapons, the nation wanted the United States to wait for international support. The U.S. should not act alone, he said, The Associated Press reported.

Any U.S. action must conform to the dictates of the U.N. Charter, Mr. Hong said.

Meanwhile, China — along with Russia — has already made clear its objections at the U.N. Security Council to any international action that topples Syria President Bashar Assad’s government.

China’s statement comes as President Obama has put on hold for at least a week any decision on U.S. action in Syria. The United States reports that the latest death count from chemical weapons unleashed by Mr. Assad’s forces on rebel fighters near Damascus is 1,429 — and most are civilians, AP reported.