US Challenges China's UN Influence, Backs Taiwan's Global Role, Ambassador Waltz Says

Waltz says US is pushing back against China's aggressive leverage of UN funding and positions to expand its influence.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 6:54pm

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The United States is challenging China's growing influence at the United Nations, including its efforts to install Chinese nationals in key leadership roles and limit Taiwan's participation in international organizations, according to U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz. Waltz said the U.S. is working to get more qualified Americans into UN leadership positions and support Taiwan's meaningful participation in global bodies.

Why it matters

China has been steadily increasing its presence and influence within the UN system, leveraging its funding to demand more positions for Chinese nationals. This raises concerns that China is using the UN to advance its own strategic interests and undermine US influence. Supporting Taiwan's global role is also a key part of the US pushback against China's efforts to isolate the self-governing island.

The details

Waltz said China has been 'very aggressively leveraging their funding with demands in terms of positions' at the UN, particularly in specialized agencies like the International Maritime Organization, World Telecommunications Union, Food and Agriculture Organization, and World Intellectual Property Organization. The US is working to 'strategically and assertively' get more qualified Americans into leadership roles at the UN. Waltz also said the US opposes China's efforts to mischaracterize a 1971 UN resolution to falsely claim sovereignty over Taiwan and block its participation in international organizations.

  • On March 20, Waltz made the remarks at a congressional field hearing.
  • On March 21, Taiwan's Foreign Minister Ling Chia-lung issued a statement thanking Waltz for supporting Taiwan's global role.

The players

Mike Waltz

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. and President of the Security Council for the month of March.

John Moolenaar

Republican Congressman and chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.

Ling Chia-lung

Taiwan's Foreign Minister.

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What they’re saying

“We have seen the Chinese very aggressively leverage their funding with demands in terms of positions.”

— Mike Waltz, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N.

“The international community must not allow any country to use politics to distort reality and exclude a democratic partner that is capable of contributing to the world.”

— Ling Chia-lung, Taiwan's Foreign Minister

What’s next

The US will continue to push back against China's efforts to expand its influence at the UN and support Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations.

The takeaway

This dispute over China's growing presence and influence at the UN highlights the broader geopolitical competition between the US and China, with Taiwan's global role emerging as a key point of contention.