<p>President Joe Biden's pick as US ambassador to the United Nations promised Wednesday to fight China's global influence as she voiced regret over delivering a speech to an institute funded by Beijing.</p>.<p>Linda Thomas-Greenfield, a former career diplomat, told her confirmation hearing that the United States should pay back dues to the United Nations -- history's "greatest peace organization" -- and not let other powers fill a void.</p>.<p>"In particular, we know China is working across the UN system to drive an authoritarian agenda that stands in opposition to the founding values of the institution -- American values," she said.</p>.<p>"Their success depends on our continued withdrawal. That will not happen on my watch," she said.</p>.<p>Thomas-Greenfield came under questioning over a speech she delivered in 2019, while she was in the private sector, at Savannah State University's Confucius Institute -- one of Beijing's overseas language and cultural centers.</p>.<p>Former president Donald Trump pushed for the closure of all Confucius Institutes, saying they amounted to propaganda organs.</p>.<p>Thomas-Greenfield said she gave the speech out of esteem for the university, a historically Black institution in Georgia, and in hopes that more people of color would join the US Foreign Service -- not because of the Confucius Institute.</p>.<p>"Truthfully, I wish I had not accepted the specific invitation. And I came away from the experience frankly alarmed at the way the Confucius Institute was engaging with the Black community in Georgia," she said.</p>.<p>"It reminded me of what I'd seen in Africa -- the Chinese government going after those in need," said Thomas-Greenfield, who is African-American.</p>.<p>In response to Senator Chris Coons, a close ally of Biden, Thomas-Greenfield said that the United States should pay back arrears to UN operations and peacekeeping -- estimated at around $1.3 billion.</p>.<p>"Not paying our bills really does diminish our power, and it diminishes our leadership," she said.</p>.<p>"We need to pay our bills to have a seat at the table, and our leadership is needed at the table."</p>.<p>The Trump administration was dismissive toward many international institutions as part of its "America First" philosophy.</p>
<p>President Joe Biden's pick as US ambassador to the United Nations promised Wednesday to fight China's global influence as she voiced regret over delivering a speech to an institute funded by Beijing.</p>.<p>Linda Thomas-Greenfield, a former career diplomat, told her confirmation hearing that the United States should pay back dues to the United Nations -- history's "greatest peace organization" -- and not let other powers fill a void.</p>.<p>"In particular, we know China is working across the UN system to drive an authoritarian agenda that stands in opposition to the founding values of the institution -- American values," she said.</p>.<p>"Their success depends on our continued withdrawal. That will not happen on my watch," she said.</p>.<p>Thomas-Greenfield came under questioning over a speech she delivered in 2019, while she was in the private sector, at Savannah State University's Confucius Institute -- one of Beijing's overseas language and cultural centers.</p>.<p>Former president Donald Trump pushed for the closure of all Confucius Institutes, saying they amounted to propaganda organs.</p>.<p>Thomas-Greenfield said she gave the speech out of esteem for the university, a historically Black institution in Georgia, and in hopes that more people of color would join the US Foreign Service -- not because of the Confucius Institute.</p>.<p>"Truthfully, I wish I had not accepted the specific invitation. And I came away from the experience frankly alarmed at the way the Confucius Institute was engaging with the Black community in Georgia," she said.</p>.<p>"It reminded me of what I'd seen in Africa -- the Chinese government going after those in need," said Thomas-Greenfield, who is African-American.</p>.<p>In response to Senator Chris Coons, a close ally of Biden, Thomas-Greenfield said that the United States should pay back arrears to UN operations and peacekeeping -- estimated at around $1.3 billion.</p>.<p>"Not paying our bills really does diminish our power, and it diminishes our leadership," she said.</p>.<p>"We need to pay our bills to have a seat at the table, and our leadership is needed at the table."</p>.<p>The Trump administration was dismissive toward many international institutions as part of its "America First" philosophy.</p>