Chinese Premier Goes to Turtle Bay

For John, BLUF:  Chinese is looking to be a respected player on the world state.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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"Chinese president Xi Jinping will arrive at the UN armed with a list of things he wants changed"

So writes Mr Richard Macauley, for Quartz.

Here is the lede plus 1:

On Sept. 28, Xi Jinping will make his first speech as China’s president to the United Nations General Assembly in New York.  Ahead of his talk, China’s foreign ministry helpfullypublished a list of amendments it would like to see the international body make, “so as to turn the vision of the UN Charter into reality at an early date.”

Some, such as the suggestion that, “the world needs to come together to make [the UN] a strong champion of peace and security,” allow China to sound authoritative without ruffling any feathers.  Others, such as a call to “respect countries’ right to choose their own path of human rights development,” offer a sharper insight into how China wants to reshape the organization to suit its own concerns.  All told, the list of 12 “priorities” that China wants the UN focus on show China both assuming the role of a major world power and also trying to shape the world order to better reflect how China does things at home.

As one would expect.

On the other hand, the UN Annual Budget is $2.8 billion.  The US pays $654.8 million.  China, the world's next biggest economy pays $139.7 million.  I am thinking the Chinese ought to be offering up about twice what they are paying now.

If they want respect.

Regards  —  Cliff