On September 26, 2025, the marble halls of the United Nations headquarters in New York City echoed with a speech that was as much about symbolism as substance. China’s second-in-command, Premier Li Qiang, took to the stage at the U.N. General Assembly, delivering remarks that both signaled his official debut on the world diplomatic stage and underscored Beijing’s persistent anxieties about the direction of global politics—especially the role of the United States under the Trump administration.
Li’s address, which came more than two and a half years after his promotion to premier, was widely interpreted as a moment of personal and political significance. According to the Associated Press, his speech did not unveil any sweeping policy changes or dramatic announcements—China’s preferred approach at this forum in recent years. Instead, Li’s words, steeped in cultural imagery and philosophical undertones, offered a window into the worldview of the world’s most populous nation as it navigates a turbulent era.
“Unilateralism and Cold War mentality are resurfacing,” Li told the assembled world leaders. “History keeps reminding us that when might dictates right, the world risks division and regression. Should the era of the law of the jungle return and the weak be left as prey to the strong, human society would face even more bloodshed and brutality.”
Though he never mentioned the United States by name—a diplomatic nuance that did not go unnoticed—Li’s speech was laced with pointed references to recent tensions between Beijing and Washington. The two economic giants have been struggling to repair relations after a year marked by trade disputes, technology bans, and the specter of fresh tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump’s White House earlier in 2025. While those tariffs have since been paused, their impact lingers, and the world is watching closely as Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping prepare for a tentative meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea next month.
Li’s rhetoric contrasted sharply with his earlier, domestically focused address at China’s National People’s Congress at the start of 2025. That speech, as reported by AP, was “dry and financially focused, as is the premier’s general practice at that forum.” This time, standing before representatives of more than 190 nations, Li adopted a different tone—one that was assertive, poetic, and rich with allusions to Chinese history and culture.
“The tide of history surges forward and the great way remains smooth and steadfast,” Li declared, evoking a sense of momentum and inevitability. He paused for a moment of personal reflection, describing his impressions upon arriving at the U.N.: “Arriving at the U.N. headquarters this time, I saw over 190 national flags lined up in front of the building and fluttering in the breeze. I saw the sculptures that have beat swords into plowshares and non-violence with their time-tested message ever so loud. And I saw staff members from different regions, of different races, and with different skin colors working in collaboration for the common goals of humanity. What I saw got me thinking: Those people, objects, and scenes that embody peace, progress, and development are exactly why we choose to commemorate victory. They’re also what inspires us to forge ahead, hand in hand.”
Yet, as several Western media outlets have pointed out, China’s internal policies often stand in stark contrast to its outward messaging. The government’s crackdown on the Muslim Uyghur minority in Xinjiang and its approach to dissent in Hong Kong have drawn sharp criticism from human rights organizations and foreign governments alike. Still, on the world stage, Li was determined to cast China as a champion of multilateralism, sovereignty, and international cooperation.
“A major cause of the current global economic doldrums is the rise in unilateral and protectionist measures such as tariff hikes and erection of walls and barriers,” Li said, in a thinly veiled critique of Trump-era trade policies. The message was clear: Beijing sees itself as a bulwark against what it perceives as the destabilizing effects of American unilateralism and the resurgence of Cold War-style thinking.
Li’s speech was peppered with aphorisms and rhetorical flourishes that underscored his government’s worldview. “Persisting in camp-based confrontation or willful resort to force only drives peace further away,” he warned. “Obsession with so-called civilizational superiority or ideology-based circles only breeds more division and confrontation.” And perhaps most pointedly, he asked, “How could we, when confronted with unscrupulous acts of hegemonism and bullying, remain silent and submissive for fear of might?”
Despite the implicit criticisms, Li’s refusal to name the United States directly was interpreted by analysts as a subtle gesture toward diplomacy. In the high-stakes theater of international relations, sometimes what is left unsaid resonates just as powerfully as what is spoken aloud.
Li’s appearance at the U.N. also reflects shifting dynamics within China’s own leadership. As the 66-year-old premier, Li is widely regarded as the second most powerful figure in the Chinese government, behind Xi Jinping. Unlike his predecessor, who was often sidelined by Xi, Li is seen as a loyalist—a trusted lieutenant with a steady hand on the economic tiller. Xi’s decision to allow Li to take the spotlight at such a prominent global forum suggests a degree of confidence in his deputy’s ability to represent China’s interests on the world stage.
China’s emphasis on multilateralism, consensus, and respect for sovereignty is not just rhetorical flourish. As AP notes, these principles are “a publicly stated cornerstone of its foreign policy but a foundational ethos for the government of a nation that has traditionally struggled to maintain control at its edges—from Xinjiang and Tibet in the far west to Hong Kong and Taiwan off its east coast.” The United Nations, designed to promote exactly these values, has long been a favored arena for Beijing to push back against what it perceives as U.S. dominance and arrogance.
Still, critics argue that China’s commitment to multilateralism is often selective, invoked as a counterbalance to “hegemonists”—a term Beijing has used for decades to refer to the United States—while pursuing its own interests in contested regions. The tension between rhetoric and reality remains a defining feature of China’s foreign policy, and Li’s speech did little to resolve that contradiction.
As the world waits to see whether the upcoming Trump-Xi meeting at APEC will yield any breakthroughs, Li’s debut at the U.N. serves as both a reminder of China’s growing clout and a statement of its preferred vision for the international order. In a time of mounting uncertainty and division, Beijing is positioning itself as a defender of stability—even as its own actions continue to be scrutinized by the global community.
The flags outside the U.N. will keep fluttering, and the debates inside will go on. But for now, Li Qiang has made it clear: China wants to be heard, and it isn’t afraid to challenge the prevailing winds of global power.
