US conditions for paying UN dues include China curbs, report says

The US ⁠has placed specific conditions on releasing billions of dollars it owes to the United Nations, including further cost-cutting, and moves to counter China’s influence at the world body, a development news wire reported on Tuesday.

The report by Devex, an independent news organisation covering global development, ‌said two diplomatic notes circulated by the US called for nine “quick-hit” reforms as a condition for releasing more funds.

It said these included:

• Overhauling the UN pension system

• Ending long-distance business-class travel for some senior and all mid-level professionals

• Imposing additional cuts to the UN’s senior ranks

• A “10 per cent reduction in long-standing, ineffective peacekeeping missions”

• Blocking China from channelling tens of millions of dollars each year to ⁠a discretionary fund housed in the office of the UN secretary general, a move aimedat counteringg Chinese influence at the ‌UN

“These reforms will be an indication that the UN is serious about reform,” Devex quoted one of the documents as saying.

The US mission to the UN ‌did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The US has said repeatedly that it ⁠will keep pressuring ⁠the United Nations to reform after announcing its withdrawals from dozens of UN bodies this year and cutting millions of dollars in ‌funding last year.

China’s UN mission did not immediately respond when asked to comment.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said assessed contributions by the US and ‌every ‌other UN member state were “a treaty obligation” and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres was already “leading a pretty heavy reform” ‌of the organisation.