Written by Laurence Brahm - Published by South China Morning Post on 10/10/2006

“It is high time to shut up”, said Sha Zukang , China’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, in August. He was responding to American politicians who had complained about Beijing’s growing military spending.

He pointed out that Beijing’s arms budget is a mere fraction of Washington’s, even though China’s population is five times larger than that of the US. In his view, the American political pressure is unfair and unnecessary – contributing little to promoting world peace, and perhaps risking a violent reaction in the future.

Mr Sha’s comments were echoed over the following month. In late August, Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad expressed similar sentiments to the 60th session of the UN General Assembly. “If some, relying on their superior military and economic might, attempt to expand their rights and privileges, they will be performing a great disservice to the cause of peace – and, in fact, will fuel the arms race and spread insecurity, fear and deception,” he said. That would jeopardize the interests of even powerful countries, he warned.

US ambassador John Bolton walked out of the chamber at the outset of Mr Ahmadinejad’s speech. So how could he understand what was being said? To a great extent, not listening is a big part of the problem – because many nations are saying the same thing.

Then, in mid-September, 118 nations representing the non-aligned movement met in Havana. They denounced the brutalization of people under occupation as a grave form of terrorism.

They seem to represent a new world consensus – a screamingly loud one. As Mr Sha showed, many are far more willing than in the past to express these concerns openly.

Cuban leader Fidel Castro’s brother, Raul, presided over the Havana forum. Representatives from more than two-thirds of the world’s nations were there, listening.

Raul Castro echoed Mr Sha’s words by pointing out how much the United States spends a year on weapons, supporting and expanding its armed forces. “To think that a social and economic order that has proven unsustainable could be maintained by force is simply an absurd idea,” said the Cuban.

Most people don’t realize that the annual American military budget – around US$400 billion – accounts for half of all global arms spending.

So, add up the bill on all that killing and destruction. No wonder the world is angry. Many non-aligned nations have called for extending UN reforms to include the expansion of Security Council membership and curtailing the veto powers of its five permanent members.

Such statements are aimed at breaking a monopoly. UN Secretary- General Kofi Annan seems to agree that these reforms are necessary if the organisation is to maintain its neutrality and independence. “The perception of a narrow power base risks leading to an erosion of the UN’s authority and legitimacy,” he warned.

But that has, to a great extent, already happened.

Everybody appreciates getting help when they ask for it. But nobody likes a nagging nanny telling them how to run their life, what to think or believe in, what constitutes good behaviour or misbehaviour, or how to govern their own lives.

Nations are no different from people, because they are made up of people. Citizens of every country will always want to be the ones to determine its future evolution and reform.

According to the principles of the UN charter and international human rights covenants, that is each nation’s own right.

“It is the US’ sovereign right to do whatever they deem good for them,” said Mr Sha in August. “But don’t tell us what is good for China.” His sharp words may have caught American politicians off guard. It may not have been what they wanted to hear.

But then again, it might be just what they needed to hear. Because this is what a lot of nations feel. And now they’re willing to say it.

Laurence Brahm is a global activist, international mediator, political columnist and author. He is the leading advocate of a fresh development paradigm - The Himalayan Consensus - an innovative approach to development.

Back to Top