US Ambassador Candidates To The United Nations Remind Great Of China's Influence

JAKARTA - Candidate for Ambassador of the United States (US) to the United Nations (UN) promised to hold China accountable in international agencies.

Candidate Linda Thomas-Greenfield also expressed deep regret over a 2019 speech at a university event supported by a Chinese government-funded organization.

In a session heavily dominated by questions about China, Thomas-Greenfield called for renewed US engagement at the United Nations. Thomas-Greenfield also answered questions about various foreign policy challenges and problems that might be faced if he had been confirmed.

"When America emerges, when we are consistent and persistent, when we exercise our influence according to our values, the United Nations can become an indispensable institution for advancing our collective peace, security and well-being," Thomas-Greenfield told the Committee on External Relations. Country in the Senate.

"If you let others fill in the gaps, the global community suffers so do American interests," he said.

"Specifically: We know China is working across the UN system to push an authoritarian agenda that goes against the basic values of institutions, American values. Their success depends on our continued withdrawal. That will not happen under my supervision."

Launching CNN, Thursday, January 28, 2021, Thomas-Greenfield is a highly respected diplomat. He was forced out of the Foreign Ministry at the start of Donald Trump's administration. He continues to face repeated questions about a speech he gave at the Confucius Institute event in October 2019 at Savannah State University, a university historically for blacks.

The Confucius Institute operates on US campuses and is funded by the Chinese government to provide language and culture programs. They have drawn scrutiny from lawmakers on both sides. The 2019 bipartisan report from the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigation of the Senate stated that "the Chinese government controls nearly every aspect of the Confucius Institute in US schools, including funding, staff and all. They also have veto power over events and speakers." Many Confucius Institutes, including those in the State of Savannah, have closed.

Apart from China, Thomas-Greenfield also discussed US relations with Iran. Thomas-Greenfield said he would work to find areas of common ground with China and Russia in trying to limit Iran.

"President Biden made it very clear, both during the campaign, and you heard it from Minister Blinken here when he testified last week that we will work and make every effort to ensure that Iran does not get access to nuclear weapons," said Thomas-Greenfield. at the confirmation hearing.

"Unfortunately over the past four years, we have seen a lot of setbacks since we pulled out of the agreement. And we will work with our allies, our friends, but we also have to work with other members of the Security Council to make sure that we hold us accountable. Iran, "he added.

Thomas-Greenfield was introduced at the confirmation hearing by Republican Senator Bill Cassidy and Democratic Senator Chris Coons. Thomas-Greenfield has won a lot of praise from current and former US foreign service officials as the ideal candidate to restore the US position and rebuild credibility in a respectable multilateral institution.

The longtime diplomat pledged to work with Congress if confirmed, saying, "I want the conversations and collaboration that we have started today to continue throughout my service as ambassador," he said.

Thomas-Greenfield began his career in the foreign service in 1982. In his 35 years in office, he has served as director general of the Foreign Service, served as ambassador in Liberia and posted in Geneva, Pakistan, Kenya, Gambia, Nigeria and Jamaica. He is also the top diplomat in the Bureau of African Affairs. Thomas-Greenfield retired in 2017 after being expelled from the State Department under Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.