UN vote a slap in the face of Trump, Haley

Thursday was a shameful day for the United States and a victory for the global community as the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly in a resolution to denounce US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

The votes of 128 in favor, nine against and 35 abstentions were achieved under reckless threats and coercion made by the US in the past few days.
After a 14-1 vote of an identical resolution at the UN Security Council on Monday, US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley threatened to stop US aid to countries that vote for the resolution on Thursday.

In an email to UN General Assembly members on Tuesday, Haley said that "the president will be watching this vote carefully and has requested I report back on those countries who voted against us. We will take note of each and every vote on this issue."

Trump also made a threat on Wednesday by saying that "all of these nations... take hundreds of millions of dollars and even billions of dollars (from us) and then they vote against us. Well, we're watching those votes. Let them vote against us; we'll save a lot. We don't care."

During her remarks before the Thursday vote, Haley attacked the UN again by calling the international body as "long been a hostile place for the state of Israel".

She made another threat that "this vote will make a difference on how Americans look at the UN and on how we look at countries who disrespect us in the UN. And this vote will be remembered."

It's ridiculous that Haley believes that the US could defy the UN and enjoy a privilege due to its large funding contribution to the international body. She disqualified herself for the job by forgetting that all the 193 UN members, large and small, are equal.

The statement to the press by the US Mission to the UN after the vote was also shameless as it portrayed the vote, with 35 abstentions and an additional 21 nations absent at the meeting, as a victory for the US. It's like saying that "the US bully and coercion has worked".

The threat and coercion exhibited by the US at the UN prove that the world's sole superpower is willing to defy the international body and the will of the international community. However, such action will only weaken the US credibility and its already declining leadership role in the world.

While some countries, in particular Canada and Australia which like to boast they are nations of principles, kowtowed to US pressure and abstained on Thursday's General Assembly vote, most countries have demonstrated principle and courage under the US coercion.

Turkish Foreign Minister Melvut Cavusoglu, whose nation along with Yemen co-sponsored the resolution, slapped the faces of Trump and Haley, metaphorically speaking, by saying "dignity and sovereignty are not for sale". Similar voices were also expressed by many other nations which stood up to US pressure and bully.

Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital on Dec 6 and the announcement that the US would move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem has sparked a series of protests around the world, causing several deaths and thousands of injuries in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories.
Thursday's vote has sent a clear and strong message to the US that the vast majority of nations stand with justice and peace despite its intimidation and its recent decision to sabotage Middle East peace.

The author is deputy editor of China Daily USA. chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com