China has refused a bid to designate the leader of the group behind an attack which brought India and Pakistan to the brink of war a terrorist.
Masood Azhar is the leader of Jaish-e-Mohammed which carried out a deadly suicide bombing killing 40 troops in Indian-administered Kashmir.
The UN Security Council has been asked to subject Mr Azhar to an assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo.
But China says it needs more time to examine the request, asking for a hold.
The postponement could last nine months, and it is the fourth time China – a close ally of Pakistan – has blocked attempts to have Mr Azhar designated a terrorist.