Outspoken Sha will speak his mind
By Zong Shu (China Daily)Updated: 2007-02-12 06:59
Sha Zukang, the new United Nations Under Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs, has been characterized in the Chinese media as courageous.
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French news agencies reported that Sha, then China's ambassador to the UN in Geneva, "throwing diplomatic language to the wind, has told the US in no uncertain terms to 'shut up and keep quiet' on the subject of Beijing's growing military spending."
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Despite the fact that he has worked in the foreign service for 37 years, Sha, 60, admitted in interviews that he was not very good at "diplomatic jargon".
However, he said he has always believed in "upholding justice", a principle he said learned from kungfu novels when he was a child.
Sha's pointed words during some of his diplomatic encounters have been duly documented.
For instance, on the transfer of Theater Missile Defense (TMD), Sha said:
"We hate the idea. We condemn the idea. The transfer of TMD would certainly touch off a strong reaction from China. That is not good for peace and stability in that part of the world."
Whatever the media call him, the UN has recognized Sha's experience in international affairs. "In addition to his well-established background in disarmament issues, Ambassador Sha is also well-versed in the fields of economics and social development," the UN said when announcing his appointment.
"Over his 37-year diplomatic career, his portfolios covered a wide range, including security, economics, social affairs, human rights and humanitarian affairs," the statement said.
He chaired the Governing Body of the International Labor Organization and the UN Conference on Trade and Development and coordinated a human rights council, according to the UN.
He was also elected or appointed to top spots for trade, intellectual property rights, social affairs and telecommunications.
Even with a noted diplomatic career, Sha has kept his candor.
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Sha's diplomatic life at a
glance 1997-2001 Director-General, Department of Arms Control, Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1995-1997 Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs and Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva 1992-1995 Counselor and Deputy Director for the Department of International Organizations and Conferences, Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1988-1992 First Secretary and Counselor, Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations, New York 1985-1988 Third Secretary, Deputy Division Director and First Secretary, Department of International Organizations and Conferences, Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1980-1985 Attach and Third Secretary, Embassy of the People's Republic of China in India 1974-1980 Staff Member, Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Sri Lanka 1971-1974 Staff Member, Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United Kingdom |
"In my own preference, I'd rather be an ambassador," he said in an interview on CCTV Sunday night.
"I even once said I'd rather be a headmaster of a kindergarten than a UN under-secretary-general," he said, but "will try my utmost to do it." He pledged that he would be fair and balanced in carrying out his duties at the UN, and said he has no urge to rein in his outspokenness.
Calling himself a "farmer diplomat", Sha grew up in a village in Jiangsu Province.
In 1965, he entered Nanjing University to major in English.
The first impression his teacher had of the farm boy was his poverty, said Jiang Ke, who supervised Sha's studies, recalling that he had only a mat and a quilt on the bed without even a pillow.
Sha was hardworking and always remained a top student, his former teacher said. Although he studied in the classroom for only two years, he continued to teach himself.
Above all, Jiang said she was impressed with Sha's style of speaking. "He never wasted his words," she said.
(China Daily 02/12/2007 page5)
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