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BEIJING – Some people wonder why China gets so much scrutiny from the world's media these days. Chinese patriots suspect there is some kind of conspiracy against their country.
But the reality is this: China's global influence is vastly increasing – and much faster than many people realize.
It is not just an economic superpower. It is also rapidly becoming a diplomatic superpower, wielding its power around the world in quiet but important ways. We need to watch China and understand China because the Chinese government is fast gaining influence over the direction of the world community.
One of the best examples is China's influence at the United Nations. Not long ago, China preferred to stay in the background at the UN, keeping a low profile and trying to avoid conflicts. Today this has changed dramatically. China is one of the most powerful countries in the UN decision-making process.
The latest evidence comes from a new study by the European Council on Foreign Relations, released this week.
On crucial issues such as Myanmar, Darfur and Zimbabwe, the report finds that Chinese diplomats at the UN are becoming more powerful and winning more support from many other countries.
“The UN is increasingly being shaped by China, Russia and their allies,” the report says.
A decade ago, China's position had less than 50 per cent support when the UN General Assembly voted on human rights issues. In the past two years, its support at the General Assembly has leaped to 74 per cent, and sometimes over 80 per cent, while the European Union has seen a sharp decline in its support, the report found.
China and Russia, it says, are “emerging as alternative poles of attraction” at the United Nations.
The report describes the “growing assertiveness” of China, the skill and discipline of its diplomats, and its increasing willingness to use its veto at the UN Security Council.
So what happens in China is not just a domestic matter that the rest of the world should ignore. We need to watch China closely because its values and beliefs are beginning to shape the rest of the world.
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