Trump cuts ties with WHO over China’s ‘total control’

Ben Riley-smith

DONALD TRUMP yesterday said he was “terminating” America’s relationship with the World Health Organisation, indicating the international body would get no more US funding.

The president cited the body’s links to Beijing as he made the announcement, saying: “China has total control over the World Health Organisation.”

Mr Trump’s decision to cut ties with the body helping lead the worldwide response to Covid-19 triggered criticism from some quarters.

The US president has blamed the WHO for failing to warn countries quickly enough about the dangers of coronavirus and not doing enough to make Beijing offer transparency about the outbreak, which began in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

Mr Trump had previously paused funding to the WHO, pending an investigation by his administration into the body’s handling of the crisis.

“We have detailed the reforms that it must make and engaged with them directly, but they have refused to act,” Mr Trump said. “Because they have failed to make the requested and greatly needed reforms, we will be today terminating the relationship.” Mr Trump said the US contributed about $450million (£365million) to the WHO while China provided about $40million.

The US president has criticised the WHO’S handling of Covid-19, questioning why it did not insist on sending independent scientists into China when the outbreak began. He has also blamed Beijing for not alerting the world

‘We have detailed the reforms that it must make and engaged with them, but they have refused to act’

quickly enough to the seriousness of the outbreak.

Dr Gail Carson, a director of the International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infection Consortium, and consultant in infectious diseases at Oxford University, said: “If there was a time not to make health political it is now … in the throes of a pandemic.

“Now is the time for solidarity and to stand together to end the pandemic as soon as we can and save lives.”