The Daily Populous Friday January 23rd, 2026 night edition
Authored by deccanchronicle.com and submitted by 1-randomonium

Beijing: China has declined an invitation from the United States to join the proposed Board of Peace, reiterating that Beijing remains firmly committed to the international system with the United Nations at its core.

The remarks were shared by Yu Jing, spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in India, in a post on X on Thursday. Quoting the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), she said that China has received the US invitation but continues to practise true multilateralism and will remain committed to safeguarding the UN-centred international system, the international order based on international law, and the principles of the UN Charter.

The statement comes as US President Donald Trump is seeking to formally establish the Gaza Board of Peace this week on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

Addressing reporters, Trump described the proposed body as the most prestigious board ever assembled and criticised the United Nations, claiming the Board of Peace would be more effective in delivering results. He also said peace in the Middle East was achieved by “taking out” the Iranian nuclear threat.

Trump said he wants participation from all nations, adding that several influential and, in his words, “controversial” figures were part of the initiative. He claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin had been invited and had accepted, and that most invited countries had responded positively.

Speaking further about the board, Trump said it would do the work the United Nations “should have done,” while still cooperating with the UN. He said the initiative began with Gaza and the Middle East and would expand to address broader global conflicts.

The Gaza Board of Peace is part of Phase 2 of Trump’s 20-Point Peace Plan aimed at ending the conflict in West Asia. The initiative is intended to promote stability and oversee post-conflict reconstruction in the Gaza Strip.

Originally proposed by Trump last September to end the Gaza war, the board now appears to have a broader mandate to mediate global conflicts.

According to a White House statement, members of the proposed Executive Board would oversee key portfolios related to Gaza’s stabilisation and long-term development. These include governance capacity-building, regional relations, reconstruction, investment attraction, large-scale funding, and capital mobilisation.

Countries committing USD 1 billion would receive permanent seats on the board, while those not making such contributions could still participate for a three-year term.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff said in an interview with CNBC on Wednesday that up to 25 countries had accepted the invitation to join the board.

Countries reported to have accepted Trump’s invitation include Israel, Kosovo, the United Arab Emirates, Hungary, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Armenia, Turkey, Pakistan, Qatar and Jordan.

lexxwern on January 22nd, 2026 at 16:53 UTC »

More tariffs on Chile as a retaliation.

jupfold on January 22nd, 2026 at 16:49 UTC »

What, you don’t want to give Trump a billion dollars?

Raja_Ampat on January 22nd, 2026 at 16:39 UTC »

Luckily Belgium, uh Belarus is still in