US Envoy to UN Challenges: UN Packed with Chinese, We Need to Get Our People In Too

Why is the U.S. accusing China of expanding its influence in the United Nations while defaulting on dues?

【Text / Observer Network 熊超然】Withdrawing from the UN, defaulting on dues, and repeatedly opposing justice at the Security Council… In recent years, the U.S. image at the United Nations has been deteriorating, and now some are turning their sights on China with ill intentions.

According to Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post on March 21, the “China Committee” of the U.S. House of Representatives’ “U.S.-China Strategic Competition Special Committee” (hereafter referred to as the “China Committee”) released a report on March 20 local time, shamelessly claiming that China is manipulating its position in the UN, harming U.S. interests, and advancing international ambitions.

This 34-page report mainly accuses China of expanding its influence through budget contributions, appointments to key UN administrative positions, and strategic deployments of troops (i.e., peacekeeping forces). However, it does not specify how these so-called “activities” differ from the operations of most other countries in the UN, nor does it mention the influence of other major donors.

On the same day, U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, also criticized China during a hearing before the House Appropriations Committee. She claimed that although the Trump administration was pushing for reforms at the UN, ensuring qualified American citizens could hold mid- and lower-level positions (including internships) at the UN aligns with U.S. national interests, rather than focusing solely on top leadership roles.

“We have observed that China is increasingly sending its citizens to the UN, and clearly, the U.S. still has much room for action in this regard,” she said. She also claimed that efforts should include measures to ensure the U.S. can continue to access key mineral resources currently controlled by China.

On March 20, during a hearing, UN Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield spoke. The U.S. delegation

“China is committed to expanding its influence across the entire UN system,” Michigan Republican Congressman and Chair of the “China Committee” John Moolenaar also participated in the hearing, claiming: “The U.S. is working with our allies and partners to maintain transparency and integrity within UN agencies and will not allow countries like China to exploit them.”

According to reports, the “China Committee”’s report made many false accusations against China, alleging that China is “placing” its personnel in senior UN positions to serve its national interests and influencing peacekeeping deployments to gain operational experience.

The report further claimed that former President Trump and his administration’s series of so-called “strong reforms” would help “hold the UN accountable and implement important changes to safeguard U.S. national security.”

It even proposed a series of “recommendations,” including urging the UN to streamline its bureaucracy, avoid “mission creep,” and prevent deviations from its authorized mandates.

The report also “calls on” this global organization to increase accountability and take preventive measures to protect U.S. and allied interests—especially from “damage” by China.

It is worth noting that in recent years, U.S. unfounded accusations against China regarding UN affairs have never ceased.

In July last year, Linda Thomas-Greenfield stated at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee nomination hearing that she aims to restore the UN to its “primary principles” and “make it great again”—by countering China’s growing influence and leading a comprehensive reform of this “bloated and biased” institution.

“Countering China is crucial,” she openly declared at the hearing. She criticized China’s continued classification as a developing country and its preferential treatment in most UN agencies, calling it “absurd.” She also accused China of “strategic personnel placement” within the UN system—“sending personnel to various positions, including agencies setting international standards—aviation, telecommunications, intellectual property. U.S. leadership is vital, and the U.S. should have a strong voice in the UN.”

However, the South China Morning Post pointed out that since Trump’s second term began, U.S. core funding for the UN has dropped by 83%, from $1.5 billion to $264 million.

Meanwhile, U.S. support for peacekeeping operations, UNICEF, UNDP, and UN Women has nearly disappeared.

Additionally, the U.S. has withdrawn from 31 UN-affiliated agencies, and as of February this year, the total U.S. unpaid UN dues have accumulated to about $6.7 billion.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a stern warning, stating that due to member states’ failure to pay dues on time, the UN faces an “imminent financial collapse.” He described the current situation as a surreal “Kafkaesque cycle”—where budget cuts loom large, and the organization’s liquidity continues to dry up.

On May 12 last year, Chinese Permanent Representative to the UN, Fu Cong, spoke at the “80th Anniversary of the UN Reform Initiative” briefing, emphasizing that as the most universal, representative, and authoritative intergovernmental organization, the UN has played an important role in maintaining world peace and promoting common development over the past 80 years. However, due to the largest contributor’s “payment suspension,” the UN’s operation and effectiveness face severe challenges.

Ambassador Fu Cong stated that China is willing to maintain close communication with the Secretary-General, the Secretariat, and member states regarding the “80th Anniversary of UN Reform Initiative,” to contribute constructively to improving the UN’s work and promoting global governance toward a more just and equitable direction.

This article is an exclusive report by Observer Network. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.