China’s influence in the UN System: The Case of UNESCO

August 8, 2023 | Greek City Times | By Xi Lao

Critics argue that China’s efforts in this domain are primarily driven by a desire to assert dominance, enhance its global image, and extend its soft power influence. By strategically leveraging its cultural heritage, China aims to shape narratives, control the discourse, and gain a greater say in UNESCO. In 2015, UNESCO awarded World Heritage status to the “Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor”. This decision was controversial because it included parts of the Xinjiang region, which is home to the Uyghurs, a Muslim minority group that has been subjected to cultural repression by the Chinese government. Critics argue that UNESCO’s decision legitimized China’s treatment of the Uyghurs. A recent report of the Uyghur Human Rights Project examines five aspects of Uyghur heritage, including music, oral history and storytelling, which have been recognized by UNESCO. It details how China has used those cultural practices to promote revisionist history and exploited them for economic profit and government control.

Read the full article: https://greekcitytimes.com/2023/08/08/chinas-influence-in-the-un-system-the-case-of-unesco/