December 2006 New Powers for Global Change: China at the UN STEPHANIE KAGE The World’s Biggest Country at the UN While being a founding member of the United Nations(UN), China 1 only started applying its weight actively within the UN in the 1990s. Against the background of China’s economic and political rise, its policy at the UN has been met with a mixture of fascination, 2 neglect and calls for caution. 3 Its leaders assert that the overriding principles of Chinese UN policy are mutual respect for each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty, mutual non-aggression, mutual non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit and peaceful co-existence. 4 These principles inform China’s way to achieve its goals. Repeatedly, it has emphasized that time pressure, coercion or sanctions are no instruments of choice. In fact, China wants to follow its own path and wants others to buy into the world-view it proposes. For fear of being controlled, China does not want to enter into coalitions. But it seeks to gain trust from its neighbors and important powers so that it can pursue its growth path“in harmony”. China started collaborating with the G77 in 1991, and became an observer in the Non-Aligned Movement in 1992. In addition, contacts to regional groups were established. In 1990, the Rio Group started organizing dialogues with China at the General Assembly(GA). In 2006, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation followed suit. Given the large number of UN members coming from Africa, this forum can enhance China’s influence at the UN considerably. The“One China” policy at the UN In 1971, the People’s Republic of China(PRC) was recognized as the only lawful representative of China. With Resolution 2758, the UN General Assembly“expelled” Taiwan(“the representatives of Chiang-Kai Shek”). China(PRC) considers Taiwan to be part of its territory insisting that Taiwan cannot be a UN member and that the UN has no right to interfere in this internal conflict. Chinese Position on UN Reform China measures the success of its UN policy in terms of its own socio-economic performance (“peaceful rise”). Mostly, it seems to see itself well served by the UN’s status quo. The country’s proposals 5 for UN reform seem to serve mainly the strengthening of its own position. 6 It fears a unipolar world, however, and, pointing at the USA, the Chinese Ambassador even“lashed out at‘a tyranny of a minority in the council.’” 7 While it tries to undermine the US’s ability to damage and contain China, it does not want to replace the US. Instead, it keeps a low profile. 8 President Hu Jintaos‘four nos’(“no hegemonism, no power politics, no alliances and no arms race”) 9 are seen to be at the heart of a new security policy that favors a multipolar world. Most of the Millenium Development Goals will be reached in China. Primary education for all and the halving of extreme poverty have been reached 1 The term China is used in the rest of the article referring to the People’s Republic of China(PRC). 2 Ramo, Joshua Cooper, The Beijing Consensus(2004), p.3(retrieved from fpc.org.uk/publications/123[accessed: Dec. 8, 2006]). 3 Möller, Kay,“The Beijing Bluff”, Survival 48, No. 2(2006), p. 137- 146. 4 President Hu Jintao at UN Summit on Sept. 5, 2005 (retrieved from www.china­un.org/eng/zt/shnh60/t212915.htm[accessed Dec. 8, 2006]). 5 Position Paper of the People's Republic of China on the United Nations Reforms, June 7, 2005(retrieved from www.china-un.org/eng/zghlhg/zzhgg/t199101.htm [accessed Dec. 8, 2006]). 6 Gareis, Sven-Bernhard,“Das Ende der Zurückhaltung?“, Vereinte Nationen 53, No. 4(2005), pp.127. 7 Traub, James,“The World According to China”, New York Times Magazine, September 3, 2006, p. 24. 8 Mahbubani, Kishore,“The Impending Demise of the Postwar System”, Survival 47, No. 4(2005-06), p. 7- 18. 9 Ramo, p.41.