China calls on rich nations to give more to UN, with apparent dig at US as ‘major’ defaulter

Name: SCMP Explains: China’s growing role in UN peacekeeping missions in Africa
Uploaded: 2021-10-05T11:30:22.000Z
Duration: 7 min 49 s
Description: SCMP Explains: China’s growing role in UN peacekeeping missions in Africa

Chinese envoy Zhang Jun blames UN cash crunch on ‘major contributor’ with long-term unpaid dues, in apparent reference to the US

Beijing has scaled up UN contributions in its defence of multilateralism, taking second spot behind the US in 2019

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Zhang Jun, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, addresses the UN General Assembly in New York on October 1. Photo: Xinhua

Kinling Loin Beijing

Published: 7:30pm, 5 Oct 2021Updated: 10:24pm, 5 Oct 2021

China has called on developed countries to shoulder “more [of the] financial burden” at the United Nations, while blaming “one major contributor” for not paying its dues, in an apparent reference to the US.

“Despite repeated calls by most member states and the secretary general’s letters to member states expressing his concerns, one major contributor still has long-time unpaid assessments, which is the main cause of the UN liquidity crisis,” Chinese ambassador Zhang Jun said at the latest UN meeting to discuss regular and peacekeeping budgets.

The comments from Zhang, China’s permanent representative to the UN, come as Washington tries to refund some of the UN agencies that saw cuts under former US president Donald Trump. In his speech, US representative Patrick Kennedy acknowledged American responsibility towards the UN budget while calling for greater scrutiny of demands.

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SCMP Explains: China’s growing role in UN peacekeeping missions in Africa

“China calls on member states, especially large contributors, to fulfil their financial obligations on time, in full and without conditions,” Zhang said at the meeting on Monday, adding that China was “always highly responsible” in paying its assessed contributions in a timely manner.

Assessments refer to the share of UN expenses to be borne by member states as determined by the General Assembly. Members may also make voluntary contributions.

The US is the single largest contributor to the UN’s regular budget – paying 22 per cent of its annual running costs which add up to around US$3 billion, as well as 25 per cent of its peacekeeping operation costs of about US$6 billion a year.

Zhang Jun at a virtual briefing on Chinese President Xi Jinping’s statement to the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, in New York on September 28. Photo: Xinhua