Michelle Bachelet, the former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, visited China on Wednesday as part of her campaign to become the next UN Secretary-General. During her trip, she met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Vice President Han Zheng.
Bachelet, known for her leftist views, previously served as the president of Chile and took on the role of High Commissioner for Human Rights after her last presidential term. She held that position from 2018 until 2022, when she opted not to run for a second term amid growing criticism regarding her handling of China’s treatment of Uyghurs and other minority groups.
Interestingly, Bachelet had visited China in 2022 just before her resignation, where she praised the country’s human rights record rather than condemning the ongoing issues. She claimed that the concentration camps run by the Chinese Communist Party were no longer operational.
Bachelet is among five contenders vying to succeed António Guterres as UN Secretary-General. The other candidates include former General Assembly President Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Rebecca Grinspan, the former vice president of Costa Rica, former Senegalese President Macky Sall, and Rafael Grossi, the Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Chile initially backed Bachelet, but support withdrew after conservative President José Antonio Kast took office.
While campaigning for this position is often subtle, involving personal interactions with powerful UN officials, Bachelet seems to be seeking backing from China, although Chinese state media didn’t label her visit as a formal campaign stop.
Footage aired by Chinese state networks showed that Bachelet received a cordial reception from Wang, the top Chinese diplomat.
The Chinese government media reported that Wang assured Bachelet of China’s active participation in the selection process for the new secretary-general, though it did not confirm support for her candidacy.
“China will participate responsibly and constructively in the selection of the next UN Secretary-General,” Wang indicated, highlighting a desire to enhance the authority and effectiveness of the UN amidst new challenges.
Xinhua News Agency added that Bachelet also discussed her candidacy with Vice President Han Zheng, who likewise reiterated China’s intention to play a significant role in the selection process.
According to reports, Bachelet expressed her admiration for China’s commitment to multilateralism, even though the country faces serious human rights criticisms. She stated her willingness to collaborate with China to strengthen the UN’s role.
Bachelet had not publicly challenged the accounts of her comments as reported by Xinhua at the time of publication.
Her association with China stirred controversy during her tenure at OHCHR. During her earlier visit in 2022, Bachelet acknowledged the challenges facing various ethnic groups under Chinese rule, yet focused on praising China’s development achievements without directly addressing the abuses.
Even though she has faced criticism from her own country regarding her candidacy, Bachelet still enjoys backing from leftist governments in Mexico and Brazil where she is considered a strong candidate despite the fallout from her previous statements on China.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed support for her, highlighting her qualifications to lead the UN amidst global challenges.
In opposition to her candidacy is Rafael Grossi, who has garnered support from the United States and is backed by conservative governments from Argentina and Paraguay. He is recognized for having implemented policies with tangible results during his leadership at the IAEA.
Rebecca Grinspan is campaigning with support from Costa Rica, promoting her strong economic track record. Meanwhile, Maria Fernanda Espinosa is leveraging her experience leading the General Assembly, with backing from Antigua and Barbuda. Macky Sall, despite lacking formal support, was nominated by Burundi.
All four candidates, except Sall, recently participated in interviews with Chinese state media regarding their pursuit of the secretary-general role.
