UNITED NATIONS, Sept 13: A top Chinese official working at the United Nations for past three years as the Undersecretary General for Economic and Social Affairs lost his cool at a recent retreat meeting in the mountains of Austria, (Alps) and used harsh words for Secretary General Ban Ki moon’s tenure. The fallout is still in doubt despite his apologies.

Sha Zukang, the Chinese official whose highly undiplomatic toast to Ban Ki-moon raises questions about China’s diplomatic commitment to the United Nations, said the Foreign Policy magazine in a article citing diplomatic sources.

At his press conference on Monday, Mr Ban asked about the incident, and later he dismissed it saying that Sha Zukang had profusely apologised again and again and the matter was closed.

But as much as the UN Chief tried to downplay the incident it has become a focus of attention for diplomats and delegates at the world body.

Diplomats wonder whether the incident will compel Beijing to take the organisation more seriously, and to send its best and brightest to serve at the world body.