China defends WHO, lashes out at US move to withdraw

BEIJING: China on Wednesday defended the World Health Organization and lashed out at the US decision to withdraw from the UN body.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said the move was another demonstration of the US pursuing unilateralism, withdrawing from groups and breaking contracts. WHO is the most authoritative and professional international institution in the field of global public health security, Zhao said at a daily briefing. The US departure from the organization undermines the international anti-epidemic efforts, and in particular has a serious negative impact on developing countries in urgent need of international support, Zhao said.

The Trump administration has formally notified the United Nations of its decision to withdraw the US from the World Health Organization, breaking off ties with the global health body amidst the raging Coronavirus pandemic. President Donald Trump said he was halting funding to the organisation in mid-april and announced his intention to withdraw from the WHO in May after he said it “failed to make the requested and greatly needed reforms.”

The US has also accused the WHO of siding with China on the outbreak of the virus, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, alleging the health body misled the world resulting in deaths of over half a million people globally, including over 130,000 in America alone.

“China has total control over the World Health Organization,” President Trump said in May. He has also alleged that the Chinese government tried to cover-up of the Coronavirus pandemic's origins.