UN General Assembly Becomes a Battleground Between US and China... "Only Conflicts Confirmed Without COVID-19 Solutions"

75th UN General Assembly, Virtual Keynote Speeches
President Trump "Hold China Accountable" Focuses on COVID Responsibility
President Xi Jinping "Builder of World Peace" Emphasizes Innocent Victims
Secretary-General Guterres Calls for Restraint in Conflicts but to No Avail

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min, Beijing=Correspondent Jo Young-shin, Naju-seok Reporter] The 75th United Nations (UN) General Assembly keynote speech, held virtually for the first time ever on the 22nd (local time) due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis, became a battleground as expected between the leaders of the United States and China. The two leaders sharply clashed and only confirmed conflicts over solutions to COVID-19. They failed to seek a resolution.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

President Donald Trump focused on blaming China for COVID-19 during his brief 7-minute speech. He said, "The UN must hold China accountable for their actions," adding, "188 countries are fiercely fighting the invisible enemy, the China virus, which has taken countless lives," igniting the blame on China. President Trump pointed out that China is the culprit that spread COVID-19 worldwide and claimed that the World Health Organization (WHO) under the UN and China lied about COVID-19 not being transmissible between humans.

He also argued that China is the main actor causing problems in the environment and international trade. CBS described President Trump’s speech as the strongest attack against China.

American media reported that President Trump’s speech resembled a campaign rally rather than a typical UN General Assembly address. Ahead of the November presidential election, Trump used anti-China sentiment for electoral purposes, and he did the same at the UN General Assembly.

Chinese President Xi Jinping took an active defensive stance. President Xi emphasized, "China will never seek hegemony or expand its power," and "China has no intention of engaging in a Cold War with any country." He continued, "China will be a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of the international order." This implies that China is a benign victim and highlights China’s role in the international community. It can also be interpreted as China’s intention to lead the international order in place of the United States.

President Xi rebutted President Trump’s accusation of China’s responsibility for COVID-19 by saying, "The COVID-19 situation should not be politicized, and we oppose stigmatization." He stated, "China is sharing its experience with epidemics and diagnostic and treatment technologies with other countries," and "We will actively participate in global research on virus tracing and transmission routes."

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

President Xi particularly hinted at using the vaccines under development as a global public good. He said, "Many vaccines in China have entered Phase 3 clinical trials," and "Once development is complete, developing countries will be given priority." This appears to be a veiled criticism of some Western countries’ vaccine nationalism.

UN Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres called for restraint in the US-China conflict, but it was to no avail. Secretary-General Guterres said, "Our world cannot bear a future where the world’s largest economies divide the globe with their own trade and financial rules, internet, and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities," and "We must do everything to avoid a new Cold War." He also emphasized the need for international solidarity amid the COVID-19 crisis. He said, "The 193 UN member states must respond together with humility and unity." Additionally, he stressed, "To ensure the future we want, now is the time to mobilize all available resources and show unprecedented political will."

Other leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, also joined the chorus of criticism. President Macron drew attention by criticizing both the US and China. Regarding the US, he sharply criticized the withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA - Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) and the move to restore sanctions. Concerning China, he raised the issue of human rights abuses against the Muslim minority in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and emphasized the need to dispatch an international investigation team.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed that the US must promptly resolve the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), which expires next year. He also stated that unlike the US, Russia will cooperate with the UN and WHO, and announced that Russia will provide its domestically developed COVID-19 vaccine, 'Sputnik V,' free of charge to UN staff.

Regarding the UN General Assembly speeches that day, CNN reported, "Leaders of major countries sparred at the UN General Assembly amid the international crisis."