China has blocked condemnation of the army coup in Myanmar in the United Nations Security Council, the British public broadcaster BBC reports.

The army seized power in Myanmar on Monday and arrested Aung San Suu Kyi, the democratically elected government leader.

The UN Security Council met to reach a common position on the coup but did not agree when China refused to compromise.

Prior to the talks, UN envoy to Myanmar Christine Schraner had condemned the coup. She referred to the November elections and stressed that they had been won “by far” by Aung San Suu Kyi’s party.

China’s veto was already expected by many.

Beijing has supported Myanmar’s military in the past and is generally opposed to what it calls meddling in internal affairs in other countries.