Couldn't U.N. agencies, which should coordinate the interests of each country from a neutral standpoint, be abused to expand China's interests? This represents that such a sense of caution is spreading among major countries.
An election was held to decide the next director general of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the U.N. specialized agency that promotes the protection of patents and trademarks. China's Wang Binying, who has been a WIPO deputy director general, was seen as a promising candidate, but was defeated by Daren Tang, the chief executive of Singapore's Intellectual Property Office.
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized China for stealing confidential information about U.S. companies. He called for support for Tang, saying he feared that important information on intellectual property could flow to China if Wang took the top post.
The move to come into line with the United States could be seen when Japan withdrew its candidate from the Patent Office. The two countries apparently shared the view that it is undesirable for China's influence to become prominent at the United Nations.
Four out of the 15 U.N. specialized agencies are headed by Chinese nationals. In many of these organizations, China's intentions are often given priority.
The World Health Organization (WHO) had not allowed Taiwan to participate as an observer in its general meetings under its director general from Hong Kong, who held the post from 2007. The current director general from Ethiopia has been criticized for his pro-China stance in dealing with the new coronavirus.
Develop personnel from Japan
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) also has not allowed Taiwan to attend its general meetings since a Chinese person took the helm.
Measures against infectious diseases and the safety of aviation can be effective only when all countries and regions share information. Although Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations, it should not be excluded from discussions.
The Chinese head of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has been calling for cooperation with China's "Belt and Road Initiative," which seeks to establish a huge economic bloc under Beijing's initiative. It lacks fairness.
In principle, the 193 member states of the United Nations have equal rights. A country has the right to cast a vote regardless of its economic power or population. Through its economic assistance to developing countries, China has formed pro-China groups and used them to secure posts and expand its voice.
Last year, China's share of the contribution to the U.N. regular budget was ranked second after the United States. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has distanced itself from the United Nations by halting or cutting funding to U.N. bodies. It is feared that the United Nations' goal of achieving peace through international cooperation will be undermined.
Along with the Japan-U.S. alliance, Japan has made international cooperation centered on the United Nations the cornerstone of its foreign policy. It must continue to develop personnel who can further contribute to the United Nations.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 14, 2020)
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