"Under Article 27 of the UN Charter, Security Council decisions on all substantive matters require the affirmative votes of nine
members. A negative vote, or veto, also known as the rule of "great Power unanimity", by a permanent member prevents adoption
of a proposal, even if it has received the required number of affirmative votes (9). Abstention is not regarded as a veto despite the
wording of the Charter. Since the Security Council's inception, China (ROC/PRC) has used its veto 6 times; France
18 times; Russia/USSR 123 times; the United Kingdom 32 times; and the United States 82 times. The majority of
Russian/Soviet vetoes were in the first ten years of the Council's existence. Since 1984, China (PRC) has vetoed
three resolutions; France three; Russia/USSR four; the United Kingdom ten; and the United States 43.
(ibid.)