China Reaffirms Loyalty to UN as Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ Attracts 22 Countries

 

China has reiterated its unwavering commitment to the United Nations, even as the United States-led Board of Peace (BoP), initiated by President Donald Trump, continues to attract global attention.

Beijing confirmed on Wednesday that it had received an invitation from Washington to join the new body but stressed that its allegiance to the UN remains firm, regardless of shifts in the international order.

Speaking at a media briefing, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, said the country “always practices true multilateralism,” noting that this principle is central to the United Nations since its founding.

According to him, China remains committed to safeguarding the international order anchored on international law, as well as the norms governing relations among states, in line with the UN Charter.

The White House announced the establishment of the Board of Peace last week. First proposed on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in September, the initiative is aimed at supporting governance, reconstruction and economic recovery in Gaza.

However, concerns have emerged that the board could expand its scope beyond Gaza and evolve into a platform capable of challenging existing UN resolutions and actions on global issues.

Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Helen McEntee, cautioned that the United Nations holds a “unique mandate” for maintaining international peace and security, warning that the BoP could assume a mandate broader than the implementation of the Gaza Peace Plan.

These concerns appear to underpin the cautious stance adopted by several countries, many of which have yet to commit to the initiative. A draft charter of the board has reportedly been circulated to about 60 countries.

The charter describes the BoP as an international organisation designed to “promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance, and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict.”

The United States is expected to host a signing ceremony for the board on Thursday on the margins of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Countries reportedly willing to join include Albania, Argentina, Bahrain, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Morocco, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

France, Denmark, Italy, Norway, Slovenia and Sweden have declined participation for now. The United Kingdom and Ukraine are also said to be hesitant due to the inclusion of Belarus and Russia, while Brazil has expressed reservations, citing its loyalty to the United Nations.

Membership of the Board of Peace is by invitation of its chairman and is limited to a three-year term. Member states are to be represented by heads of state or senior government officials and are required to contribute to the board’s operations in line with their domestic laws.

However, countries that contribute $1 billion within the first year are to be granted permanent membership, a provision the White House said reflects a “deep commitment to peace, security and prosperity.”

Founding members of the board appointed by President Trump include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Steve Witkoff, Marc Rowan, Ajay Banga, Jared Kushner and Robert Gabriel.

Others named to key roles are Aryeh Lightstone and Josh Gruenbaum as senior advisers, Nickolay Mladenov as High Representative for Gaza, and Major General Jasper Jeffers as Commander of the International Stabilisation Force.