China pushing hard for leadership in wide range of UN agencies

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – In contrast to a low-key stance it has adopted in the past, China is now pushing hard for leadership posts in United Nations agencies, frequently resorting to bribery and economic coercion in doing so, the Washington Times reported on Sunday. As one of the five Permanent Members of the UN Security Council, China has veto power.

China has intensified its campaign for UN leadership slots since 2017, the Washington Times reports. Beijing is particularly focused on gaining control of UN agencies dealing with international laws and standards for human rights, global trade, digital communications and public health.

According to analysts, it is to be expected that China would seek a stronger presence in the UN as it is the second-largest contributor to the post-World War II institution, after the US. It is also becoming an economic and military superpower, the Washington Times notes.

“The Chinese government is keen to turn the U.N. and international organizations in general into platforms for its foreign policy agenda … while stifling dissent and democracy and generally hollowing out the rules-based order,” Craig Singleton, a Foundation for Defense of Democracies analyst told the Washington Times.

“What’s needed now more than ever is a bipartisan approach to addressing the China challenge regardless of which party proves victorious in November,” Singleton said.

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