Saturday, March 29, 2025
Beijing, September 24, 2025 – A day after U.S. President Donald Trump sharply criticized the United Nations during his address at the UN General Assembly, China stepped in to defend the global body, highlighting its role in maintaining peace and promoting international development.
Trump, speaking before more than 150 world leaders on Tuesday, claimed that the UN had failed to live up to its potential, dismissing its actions as “hollow words” and suggesting he personally played a greater role in halting wars than the organization itself. “In most cases, all they do is send a strongly worded letter, and nothing changes. Hollow words don’t stop wars,” Trump said.
On Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun pushed back against Trump’s remarks during a media briefing in Beijing. “Over the past 80 years, the United Nations has played a vital role in promoting peace and global development at the international level,” Guo said.
He stressed that at a time of global turbulence, defending the UN’s authority is more important than ever. “China has always believed that in these troubled times, upholding and safeguarding the authority of the United Nations is essential,” he added.
Guo reminded reporters that China is both a founding member of the United Nations and a permanent member of the UN Security Council. He reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to strengthening the UN’s mission and working with other member states to “revitalize the UN’s authority and power in a new era to safeguard global peace.”
Trump’s UNGA speech sparked global reactions not just for his critique of the UN, but also for his claims of having stopped multiple wars without UN assistance. He argued that the organization had “immense potential” but was not even close to realizing it.
China’s firm defense of the UN highlights a growing divide in how global powers view the institution’s relevance in addressing today’s crises. While Trump portrayed it as ineffective, Beijing underscored its central role in maintaining peace and stability.
