US lawmakers warned that China is expanding its influence across the United Nations through funding, staffing and diplomatic outreach….reports Asian Lite News
US lawmakers voiced growing concern on Wednesday over China’s expanding influence within the United Nations, warning that Beijing is steadily strengthening its position across the global body as debates continue in Washington over reducing American engagement.
During a hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Intelligence, lawmakers said China has been increasing its influence through staffing, financial contributions and diplomatic outreach, raising fears that Beijing could gain greater sway over decisions within the UN system.
Representative Jared Moskowitz warned that any retreat by the United States from international institutions would leave more space for China to expand its influence.
“Everywhere that the US wants to withdraw, China just comes in, with more dollars and more influence,” Moskowitz said during the hearing.
Lawmakers also highlighted what they described as Beijing’s long term strategy of placing personnel within UN agencies and institutions. Moskowitz claimed China had positioned large numbers of interns throughout the organisation, many of whom later moved into permanent roles, helping expand Beijing’s institutional presence.
He argued that China’s growing financial investments in regions including Africa and Latin America had translated into stronger diplomatic backing at the UN.
“China controls more votes than we control now,” he said, referring to Beijing’s outreach efforts in developing nations.
While both Republicans and Democrats acknowledged the scale of the challenge posed by China’s growing influence, divisions emerged over how Washington should respond.
Some Republican lawmakers argued that the United States should reduce funding and participation in the UN unless major reforms are introduced. Others maintained that Washington should instead use its financial contributions more aggressively to counter Beijing’s influence.
Among witnesses at the hearing, analyst Brett Schaefer argued that the United States still retains significant leverage as the largest financial contributor to the UN system.
“The key challenge is not a lack of US influence, but in its application,” Schaefer told lawmakers.
Other experts cautioned that reducing American engagement with the UN could ultimately strengthen China’s position.
Legal scholar Eugene Kontorovich warned that withdrawal from international institutions risked giving Beijing greater room to expand its influence without opposition.
Meanwhile, Peter Yeo stressed that continued US participation remained essential in shaping outcomes at the United Nations.
He argued that reforms within the organisation would be more achievable if Washington remained actively engaged and continued meeting its financial commitments instead of stepping back.
Lawmakers said China’s strategy of combining financial support, staffing expansion and diplomatic coordination reflected a broader effort to shape international norms and institutions amid growing geopolitical rivalry.
Founded in 1945, the United Nations now has 193 member states and remains a central platform for global diplomacy, peacekeeping operations and humanitarian work. While the United States has historically been the organisation’s biggest financial contributor, China has significantly expanded its role and influence within the UN system over the past two decades.
