China has reaffirmed its firm commitment to the United Nations (UN) as the U.S.-initiated Board of Peace (BoP), chaired by President Donald Trump, continues to attract international attention and debate.
Beijing confirmed on Wednesday that it had received an invitation from the United States to join the Board of Peace but stressed that its allegiance to the United Nations remains unwavering, regardless of global political shifts.
Speaking at a regular press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said China “always practices true multilateralism,” noting that such an approach lies at the very core of the United Nations since its founding.
“China is committed to safeguarding the international order based on international law, and the basic norms governing international relations based on the principles of the UN Charter,” Jiakun added.
The White House announced the creation of the Board of Peace last week. The initiative was first proposed in September on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly and was designed to support governance, reconstruction and economic recovery in Gaza.
However, the initiative has raised concerns among several countries that the BoP could expand beyond Gaza and evolve into a platform that challenges the authority, resolutions and actions of the United Nations on broader international issues.
Ireland’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Helen McEntee, warned that the UN possesses a “unique mandate” to maintain global peace and security, cautioning that the Board of Peace could end up with “a mandate wider” than the implementation of the Gaza Peace Plan.
These concerns appear to underpin the cautious stance adopted by a number of countries whose leaders are reportedly reluctant to participate. A draft charter of the BoP has been circulated to about 60 countries, describing the board as an international organisation aimed at promoting stability, restoring lawful governance and securing lasting peace in conflict-affected or threatened regions.
The United States is expected to host a signing ceremony for the Board of Peace on Thursday on the margins of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.
Countries said to be willing to join the board include Albania, Argentina, Bahrain, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Morocco, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
Meanwhile, France, Denmark, Italy, Norway, Slovenia and Sweden have declined participation for now. The United Kingdom and Ukraine are also expected to decline, reportedly due to the inclusion of Belarus and Russia, while Brazil has expressed reluctance, citing its strong allegiance to the United Nations.
Under the proposed framework, BoP membership is limited to states invited by the chairman. Members will be represented by heads of state or senior government officials and are required to contribute to the board’s operations in line with their domestic laws.
Membership is set to last for three years, but countries that contribute $1 billion in the first year will be granted permanent seats. According to the White House, the fee “offers permanent membership” to nations demonstrating deep commitment to peace, security and prosperity.
President Trump has appointed several founding board members, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, Steve Witkoff, Marc Rowan, Ajay Banga, Jared Kushner and Robert Gabriel.
Aryeh Lightstone and Josh Gruenbaum will serve as senior advisers, Nickolay Mladenov has been named High Representative for Gaza, while Major General Jasper Jeffers will act as Commander of the International Stabilization Force.
