Portugal's UN Win Begins to Pay Off

Portugal looks set to cash in on their new Security Council seat. This week, Chinese president Hu Jintao arrived in Lisbon with promises of aid.

Who says the UN is worthless?

Through clever maneuvering within the European Union bloc, Portugal defeated Canada for a 2-year temporary seat on the UN Security Council. Portugal's vote now weighs heavily on issues like international sanctions against Iran.

And guess who just showed up to visit Portugal, one of the "PIGS" group of European countries struggling with heavy indebtedness?

Why it's Chinese President Hu Jintao and his entourage! And they arrived promising financial aid for hardpressed Portugal.

We are ready to take concrete measures to help Portugal overcome the global financial crisis,” Mr Hu said.

Fu Ying, China’s deputy foreign minister, said China was committed to investing in European bonds and was ready to help Portugal.

“We are definitely concerned if our friends are in difficulties,” she told journalists.

Especially when those friends are well positioned to thwart foreign policies of which the Chinese disapprove. One more reminder that the Obama administration would have been wiser to work harder to support the Canadian bid.