WHO Feat. China { 46 images } Created 15 Apr 2020
Behind-the-scenes essay on Chinese diplomacy and the World Health Organization (WHO)
as the coronavirus spreads - from the Strategic Health Operations Centre (SHOC) to the Governing Body - tensions were clear; as is Chinese maneuvering, and the mounting pressure on the WHO head, the Ethiopian Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
At the end of a fraught week, before its governing body met at the beginning of February, the WHO declared a global health emergency (officially a ”public health emergency of international concern”) and various countries immediately introduced travel bans on people coming from China. The Chinese reacted angrily, having fought behind the scenes at the UN and WHO to resist the declaration.
The WHO moved into a new rhythm. In the morning the experts meet in the SHOC, the 'situation room' of the organization, detailing the spread of the disease and assessing where we are and the way forward. This is followed by an afternoon briefing to the global press, often led by the Director General.
Even here the Chinese presence is felt, with Chinese journalists posing leading questions, seeking propaganda when the rest of the world is looking for information Meanwhile Taiwan is never mentioned, a mere Chinese Province according to the WHO. It took until 11 March for the organization to declare a global ‘pandemic’ when it had reached 114 countries.
Officially, at the beginning of the year, China contributed just 0.21% of the annual budget of the WHO and the United States 14.67%, the largest contributor, followed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and UK, in fourth place, with 7.79 %). while equally stating that it’s “not our purpose to deliberately seek global influence by providing more funding”. President Trump announced the end of US funding for the WHO, while the Chinese government has made much of delivering masks to Africa and beyond – even to UN correspondents.
What is seen by many observers as a new cold war between China and US around global influence at the UN and beyond has coalesced around the WHO and the Pandemic. China plays victim. In a recent – online – briefing Geneva’s eponymous Chinese Ambassador Chen, stated that it was "absurd and ridiculous” to politize the crisis. He also refused to say when, or if ever, it will allow international experts to join investigations into the apparent animal origin of the pandemic, only serving to fuel suspicions concerning China’s actions leading to this crisis, but which equally may well point to future economic conflict. Western intelligence agencies warn of attempts by foreign governments to hack medical research facilities, especially those searching for a vaccine.
as the coronavirus spreads - from the Strategic Health Operations Centre (SHOC) to the Governing Body - tensions were clear; as is Chinese maneuvering, and the mounting pressure on the WHO head, the Ethiopian Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
At the end of a fraught week, before its governing body met at the beginning of February, the WHO declared a global health emergency (officially a ”public health emergency of international concern”) and various countries immediately introduced travel bans on people coming from China. The Chinese reacted angrily, having fought behind the scenes at the UN and WHO to resist the declaration.
The WHO moved into a new rhythm. In the morning the experts meet in the SHOC, the 'situation room' of the organization, detailing the spread of the disease and assessing where we are and the way forward. This is followed by an afternoon briefing to the global press, often led by the Director General.
Even here the Chinese presence is felt, with Chinese journalists posing leading questions, seeking propaganda when the rest of the world is looking for information Meanwhile Taiwan is never mentioned, a mere Chinese Province according to the WHO. It took until 11 March for the organization to declare a global ‘pandemic’ when it had reached 114 countries.
Officially, at the beginning of the year, China contributed just 0.21% of the annual budget of the WHO and the United States 14.67%, the largest contributor, followed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and UK, in fourth place, with 7.79 %). while equally stating that it’s “not our purpose to deliberately seek global influence by providing more funding”. President Trump announced the end of US funding for the WHO, while the Chinese government has made much of delivering masks to Africa and beyond – even to UN correspondents.
What is seen by many observers as a new cold war between China and US around global influence at the UN and beyond has coalesced around the WHO and the Pandemic. China plays victim. In a recent – online – briefing Geneva’s eponymous Chinese Ambassador Chen, stated that it was "absurd and ridiculous” to politize the crisis. He also refused to say when, or if ever, it will allow international experts to join investigations into the apparent animal origin of the pandemic, only serving to fuel suspicions concerning China’s actions leading to this crisis, but which equally may well point to future economic conflict. Western intelligence agencies warn of attempts by foreign governments to hack medical research facilities, especially those searching for a vaccine.