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UN-POLITICS-CHINA-DIPLOMACY-CONFLICT
In a divided UN, China blazes quiet path to power
UNITED NATIONS, United States, Oct 6, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Criticized by the
White House for alleged interference in US politics, China has quietly blazed
a path at the United Nations where it is, little by little, becoming one of
the most influential members.
At the Security Council, where China holds one of five permanent veto-
wielding seats, its statements remain bland, often recalling fundamentals of
the United Nations Charter such as national sovereignty and principles of
non-interference.
“In their interpretation, democracy is optional, as are human rights,” a
European diplomat said.
Yet in peacekeeping missions or when jobs are available in the UN’s
executive arm at the New York headquarters, Beijing is increasingly making
its presence felt.
More than 2,500 Chinese military personnel wear UN blue helmets on
peacekeeping missions in Libya, Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo and
South Sudan.
China has also “enormously increased” its voluntary financial contributions
to the world body while the US under President Donald Trump has slashed its
own financing, one diplomat said.
Funding reports and missions allows China to buy some “influence” and push
its candidates into top positions, the diplomat added, adding that to have
Chinese in multiple roles across the UN provides “a source of information and
influence.”
Another diplomat, also speaking anonymously, said: “China is taking power
at the United Nations.”
– Spheres of influence –
In 2017 and 2018, the Asian giant, which is economically expanding in
Africa and elsewhere, became a key player on two major international crises:
North Korea and Myanmar.
Under American pressure, Beijing imposed unprecedented economic sanctions
against Pyongyang, but with the hope that an accord on denuclearization of
the Korean peninsula will lead to the departure of about 30,000 US troops
based in South Korea — China’s behind-the-scenes strategy in the region.
China meanwhile considers the crisis of Myanmar’s Muslim minority Rohingya,
700,000 of whom fled a military crackdown to Bangladesh, as a bilateral issue
between those two countries, and succeeded in preventing any firm Security
Council action.
– Power and erosion –
European diplomats have noted that China’s rise at the United Nations has
come at a time when Beijing and Moscow are no longer automatically offering
each other immediate reciprocal support.
When Moscow makes use of its veto power, China sometimes simply abstains.
Even in lower-profile situations, such as negotiating texts among the 15
Security Council members at the experts level, China is “present on all
subjects,” one diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Beijing, for example, is now seeking to become chief author on texts about
Afghanistan, replacing the Netherlands, which on January 1 will leave its
non-permanent Security Council seat, several diplomats said.
The vast majority of UN resolutions still are written by the United States,
Britain or France — a reflection of an older world order.
China, like Russia, is rarely the author, although it was in charge of the
Somalia file in the past.
So how far will China go? Some say this is only the tip of the iceberg.
“For China, multipolarity is just one stop on the underground metro line,”
one diplomatic source said.
For Beijing, it then sees a Group of Two — China and the US, and
eventually, China will reign supreme, a diplomat said.
“They are long-term players. They don’t want to create a commotion,”
another diplomatic source said.
The United States has imposed $250 billion in tariffs on Chinese goods and
Trump has gone so far as alleging that Beijing is interfering in the November
midterm elections in hopes of helping defeat his Republican Party due to his
tough trade stance.
Speaking to a US think tank last week, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi
dismissed fears that his country was seeking to overtake the US as the pre-
eminent world power.
Concluding that China is about to seek hegemony, he said, is “a serious
strategic misjudgment.”
BSS/AFP/GMR/1125 hrs