(TibetanReview.net, Dec25, 2018) – Because of its rapid economic growth and the size of its economy, China will become the second-largest monetary sponsor of the United Nations, behind only the US, under newly adopted contribution plans, reported asia.nikkei.com Dec 24. This is expected to further raise China’s influence in the world body where it has in the past scuttled or watered down resolutions and censored reports.
Japan has been the second largest contributor since the 1980s but its economic size and growth has been eclipsed by China in recent years.
The report said the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on Dec 22, increasing the Chinese contribution to 12.005% for 2019 to 2021, up from 7.921% for 2016 to 2018, owing to its rapid economic growth.
Slower-growing Japan’s contribution share has shrunk to 8.564% from 9.68%.
The US will still pay the maximum possible of 22%, which is still above those of China and Japan combined.
Member contribution rates are revised every three years based on such economic indicators as gross national income. Being knocked down to third place could weaken Japan’s influence in the international body.
The UNESCO recently announced that it would increase the number of its Chinese staff in keeping with the country’s increased contribution to this UN organ.
The report also said the US was assigned to pay about 28% of the budget for UN peacekeeping operations but had refused to pay more than 25%, calling the requested amount overly burdensome.