‘Might over right’ imperils international justice, Wang Yi tells UN’s Baerbock

AdvertisementUS, Israel war on IranChinaDiplomacy‘Might over right’ imperils international justice, Wang Yi tells UN’s Baerbock

UN General Assembly president meets Chinese foreign minister in Beijing amid Iran war tensions and global energy crisis

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Cao Jiaxuanin BeijingPublished: 7:51pm, 29 Apr 2026Updated: 8:24pm, 29 Apr 2026China’s top diplomat Wang Yi called for “unity and the safeguarding of international justice” during a meeting with UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock on Wednesday, urging a global front against the “law of the jungle” amid deepening geopolitical tensions.

During the talks in Beijing, Wang told Baerbock that multilateralism faced “severe challenges” from unnamed powers prioritising “might over right” – a veiled critique of Washington.

“Certain countries pursue a policy of ‘strength first’, openly challenging the status and role of the United Nations,” Wang said, according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement.

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Indonesian seafarer among 20,000 stranded for months as Strait of Hormuz remains blocked

Indonesian seafarer among 20,000 stranded for months as Strait of Hormuz remains blocked

Facing such “headwinds” and “bullying”, he said, meant the international community must “uphold the correct path of cooperation” rather than allowing the “law of the jungle to prevail”.

AdvertisementThe meeting came as the US-Israeli war on Iran enters its third month with no diplomatic breakthrough in sight. Iran’s retaliatory blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and the subsequent US counter-blockade of Iranian ports have choked the world’s oil supply, triggering a global energy crisis.

Wang noted that 2026 marked the 55th anniversary of China’s return to the United Nations, and reiterated Beijing’s position that it was a “steadfast defender” of the UN-centred international system.

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He also pledged support for Baerbock’s mandate, expressing “hope and confidence” that she would unify the 193 member states to uphold the core principle of “sovereign equality”.

Baerbock, a former German foreign minister, is presiding over the landmark 80th session of the UN General Assembly, which runs until September.

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