Exclusive: China's John Bolton

Foreign Policy ^ | 09/08/10 | Colum Lynch

[TigerLikesRooster]

Exclusive: China's John Bolton

Posted By Colum Lynch Wednesday, September 8, 2010 - 6:46 PM Share

Sha Zukang, the U.N. undersecretary general for Economic and Social Affairs and the organization's most senior Chinese official, offered U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon a toast last week at a retreat in the Alpine resort town Alpbach that degenerated into an intoxicated rant against the United Nations, the United States, and his boss, Turtle Bay has learned.

"I know you never liked me Mr. Secretary-General -- well, I never liked you, either," Sha told Ban at a dinner attended by the U.N.'s top brass, according to a senior U.N. official who attended the event. "I didn't want to come to New York. It was the last thing I wanted to do. But I've come to love the U.N. and I'm coming to admire some things about you."

The blunt dinner remarks -- which came after Sha had a few drinks -- prompted U.N. officials to approach Sha and try to coax him into putting down the microphone, according to a U.N. spokesman and several U.N. sources who were there. It didn't work. Sha continued a lengthy speech, in which he also expressed his antipathy toward the United States. "It was a tribute gone awry," said a second senior U.N. official who was at the dinner. "It went on for about ten or fifteen minutes but it felt like an hour." Ban was described as having smiled and nodded awkwardly during the Sha rant, but he allowed the dinner to continue.

U.N. officials said that Sha realized that he had gone too far, and that he spent much of the following day out of sight. "Sha Zukang was deeply apologetic when he met the Secretary General in person early the following morning at his own request,"

[TigerLikesRooster]

P!

[Tainan]

I like this guy Sha Zukang. I always have applauded rare displays of diplomatic honesty. Of course it usually is a signal of the end of the diplomats career and a recall for "retirement" or re-assigned to either some far corner of the the home country (I'm thinking a far western province in China with lots of muslim difficulties) or a place so far off the beaten path that their mail is delivered by native canoe.


For this one, its going to take a lot of cookies and cakes and real big and fat red envelope sent out in apology.

[Tainan]

"The trouble at Alpbach began when U.N. officials arranged for a cocktail reception for senior officials. The organizers asked the U.N.'s senior male officials to mix drinks for their female counterparts, as a symbol of the greater number of top women in the traditionally male dominated organization. Ban acted as one of the main bartenders.

Following the reception and a dinner, top U.N. officials were offered an opportunity to make some remarks. Sha took the microphone and that said that while the "wine affected me a little...I want to say something that's on my mind," recalled a senior U.N. official. "

Sounds like a "Hold Muh Beer" moment hit Mr. Sha...;)

[liberalcide1]

John Bolten may be outspoken, but he is far too smart to do anything like this. He knows how to say what he means and does’t have to be drunk to do it—and do it using diplomatic skills. BAD TITLE.

[raybbr]

Is the dem zombie population stupid enough to allow Hillary to separate herself from this administration?

[raybbr]

Sorry, wrong thread. First time in over nine years.

[TigerLikesRooster]

I suspect he was in foul mood because his favorite mistress walked out on him, leaving behind a huge credit card bill.:-)

[katana]

I'm thinking a far western province in China with lots of muslim difficulties

Xinjiang, here I come! Urumqi is lovely this time of year.

[Quix]

I agree. LOL.

[SumProVita]

There is NO comparison between this guy and John Bolton. Ridiculous...

[nuconvert]

How is he like John Bolton if he says, “But I’ve come to love the U.N.” . Bolton has never said that. He sounds more like he’s turned into all the rest of them.

[nuconvert]

“he also expressed his antipathy toward the United States”

How is that like Bolton?

[2001convSVT]

I agree, bad tittle, Ambassador John Bolten although he speaks candidly he remains a gentleman. Insulting your host is not acceptable behavior.