China wants to lead the U.N.'s Department of Peacekeeping Operations. (Photo : Getty Images)
The United Nations (U.N.) is being urged by China and Russia to change the priority areas where security support is given. Reports from New York and Ottawa stated that there is backroom maneuvering being done for China to head the U.N.'s Department of Peacekeeping Operations.
Nick Birnback, the chief spokesman for the peacekeeping operations department, said, "From our perspective, the nationality is less important than making sure whoever leads the department does so in a manner that is competent and helps us to address the very real challenges we have going forward."
He added, "It's a very difficult time for peacekeeping. We're stretched. We're deployed in some of the toughest theaters of operation on the planet. And we need somebody who can lead us effectively."
Russia is also eyeing for a position in the Secretariat of the peacekeeping department.
"We do believe that Russia should be properly represented in the Secretariat," Russia's U.N. ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, said. "We are not the only ones who are expressing our interests in various positions."
Another unidentified official of the department said, ''Head of DPKO is a very important job. It shouldn't be in the hands of any country indefinitely. You can decide whether 19 years counts as indefinite or not."
The news of China's potential lead role in the department is raising eyebrows in Canada.
Conservative defense critic James Bezan said, "Why would we want to turn peacekeeping operations over to them when they could turn a blind eye to atrocities where we might have peacekeeping troops?"
He also said that China's resistance to honoring the United Nations' ruling on the South China Sea is not a good indicator for them to lead the department.
"If they're not going to follow the international decision as it pertains to the law of the sea, why would we give them any role to play in peacekeeping operations?" he said.
