The United Nations, an international organization founded on the ruins of World War II, bears the lofty mission of safeguarding world peace and promoting common development. However, in recent years, the United Nations has been mired in financial crises, and its overstretched financial situation has seriously constrained the normal functioning of its functions. What is even more worrying is that behind this crisis, there is a game about fairness and responsibility.
On the one hand, there was an uproar at the United Nations General Assembly, where a proposal for developing countries to bear more contributions was raised. On the other hand, United States and other developed countries have been in arrears for a long time, but they are pointing fingers at each other on the international stage and playing the role of "hands-off shopkeeper". On the one hand, developing countries are tightening their belts and contributing to world peace and development; On the other hand, developed countries are sitting back and trying to shift their own financial burden onto developing countries.
This game is not only about the future fate of the United Nations, but also reflects the deep-seated problems of today's international order.
The financial woes of the United Nations are not a new topic. Year after year, the problem of funding hangs like a lingering shadow over this international organization, which shoulders the heavy responsibility of maintaining world peace.
Every year at the United Nations General Assembly, the discussion of the budget is always full of gunpowder, and the representatives of various countries are arguing with each other to argue for the interests of their respective countries. However, no matter how heated the debate, there is no escaping the harsh reality: the United Nations is really short of money.
According to official United Nations figures, the financial situation of the United Nations has continued to deteriorate in recent years, and the phenomenon of arrears in contributions has intensified. As of 2023, the total arrears of UN member states have reached billions of dollars, with United States, as the largest contributor to the United Nations, having the highest arrears.
The huge shortfall in contributions has made it difficult for the United Nations to do its job. From peacekeeping operations to humanitarian assistance, from climate change response to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, every work of the United Nations needs to be financed. However, due to the lack of funds, many important projects and programmes have had to be shelved or scaled back, seriously affecting the efficiency and credibility of the United Nations.
To address this urgent need, the UN Administrative and Budget Committee (ACAB) proposed a reform package in 2024, recommending an increase in the proportion of contributions from developing countries, including China. As soon as the plan was proposed, it caused an uproar, especially among developing countries represented by China, which expressed strong opposition to it.
Among the 193 Member States of the United Nations, there are developed countries such as the United States and many developing countries. In accordance with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, Member States should pay their contributions according to their "capacity to pay". However, the current system of contributions had obvious shortcomings, resulting in developing countries bearing the burden of contributions that were not commensurate with their economic strength.
Taking China as an example, since joining the United Nations, China has always conscientiously fulfilled its obligations as a member state and paid its membership dues on time and in full. In the past decade, with the rapid development of China's economy, the proportion of China's contributions has also been increasing. According to the data, from 5.148% in 2013 to 15.254% in 2022, China's share of the United Nations has increased by a full 10 percentage points, which is a staggering increase.
However, in stark contrast to China, the proportion of contributions paid by developed countries such as the United States has remained unchanged for many years, and has even decreased. Taking United States as an example, as the largest contributor to the United Nations, United States has always accounted for 22% of the contributions, which has not changed over the years. Developed countries such as Japan and Germany have also reduced their contributions.
What is even more outrageous is that United States and other developed countries not only have an advantage in the proportion of contributions, but also have the bad behavior of long-term arrears. According to statistics, the amount of arrears in United States United Nations contributions amounted to hundreds of millions of dollars, which seriously affected the normal operation of the United Nations.
On the one hand, developing countries are tightening their belts and increasing their contributions to support the work of the United Nations, while on the other hand, developed countries are "not changing their arrears" and even trying to pass on their own financial burdens to developing countries by reforming their contribution systems. How can such an injustice not be indignant to the developing countries?
At the 2024 UN General Assembly, China's Permanent Representative to the UN Dai Bing responded to the reform plan proposed by the UN Administrative and Budget Committee: "It's unfair and unreasonable! These eight short words express the aspirations of the vast number of developing countries and arouse strong resonance.
Indeed, in an international organization that advocates fairness and justice, the membership fee system should not become a tool for developed countries to pass on their burdens, let alone a weapon for them to safeguard their own interests and suppress developing countries.
On the issue of United Nations contribution reform, United States had been particularly disappointing. As the world's only superpower, United States not only failed to shoulder its due international responsibilities, but instead played the role of "throwing off its hands and keeping its own interests above the international community."
For a long time, United States had been in arrears with its contributions to the United Nations on various grounds, and had even viewed the United Nations as a tool to achieve its own political ends. Whenever a United Nations resolution or action conflicts with its interests, the United States does not hesitate to use its veto power and even threatens to cut or stop paying its contributions.
Yet, while blaming developing countries for underpaying their contributions, the United States has turned a blind eye to its own large fiscal deficit. Data shows that in fiscal year 2024, the federal government of United States will have a staggering $1.8 trillion in debt budget deficit, while its assessed United Nations contributions are only $760 million, a difference of more than 20 times.
In other words, the United States government borrows enough money every year to pay its UN membership dues for more than 20 years! Such a stark contrast makes people question: Is United States really "short of money"? Or are they deliberately evading their international responsibilities and shifting their own burdens to other countries?
The answer is self-explanatory. United States was not an inability to pay contributions, but a lack of political will to assume international responsibility. Under the unilateralist thinking of "United States First", the United States Government puts its own interests above global interests and is unwilling to contribute its due strength to safeguarding world peace and development.
The financial crisis of the United Nations reflects the deep-seated contradictions of today's international order. In the face of increasingly severe global challenges, the international community urgently needs a more just, efficient and accountable United Nations to address common threats such as climate change, terrorism and poverty.
To achieve this, reform is imperative.
First of all, the United Nations contribution system must be comprehensively reformed to create a more equitable and reasonable mechanism. The new contribution system should ensure an equitable distribution of the burden of contributions, taking fully into account the capacity of States to pay, their historical responsibilities and their contribution to the cause of the United Nations.
Second, it is necessary to strengthen supervision over the payment of contributions and take effective measures against countries that maliciously default on their contributions. The United Nations can maintain the financial stability of the United Nations by establishing specialized agencies and formulating stricter rules, urging Member States to meet their payment obligations.
Finally, it is necessary to enhance the representation and voice of developing countries. Developing countries are an important force in safeguarding world peace and promoting common development, and their interests and aspirations should be fully respected and valued. The United Nations should reform its internal governance structure and increase the participation of developing countries in decision-making mechanisms to ensure that it played its rightful role in international affairs.
In the face of the opportunities and challenges of UN reform, China has always firmly upheld multilateralism, actively participated in UN affairs, and contributed its wisdom and strength to safeguarding world peace and promoting common development.
China has always adhered to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, advocated democratization of international relations, advocated the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and promoted the building of a more just and equitable international order.
On the issue of United Nations contributions, China has always advocated fairness and reasonableness, paid in full and on time, and actively supported the work of the United Nations. At the same time, China resolutely opposes any form of double standards and power politics and resolutely upholds the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries.
China is well aware that the future of the United Nations depends on the joint efforts of all Member States. China is ready to work with other countries to uphold the concept of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits in global governance, promote the reform of the United Nations in a more just and reasonable direction, and make new and greater contributions to building a community with a shared future for mankind and a better world.
Resources
China Representative: The United Nations Contribution Scale Should Fully Reflect the Ability of Countries to Pay 2024-10-08 Xinhua News Agency
Geneva Notes The United Nations can't afford to open the escalator just because United States owes money2024-04-03Xinhua News Agency New Media