China plans to nominate Song Li, a senior public health official, to succeed Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as Director-General of the World Health Organization. The late entry is seen as an effort by Beijing to expand its influence following the United States' withdrawal under Donald Trump. Song, who has 20 years of maternal and child health expertise, faces potential scrutiny over her 2020 COVID-19 work amid lingering tensions regarding China's relationship with the agency.
China's nomination of Song Li
- ▪If selected, Song Li would be the second Chinese national to lead the World Health Organization, following Margaret Chan
- ▪Song Li's candidacy could face scrutiny due to lingering tensions over the World Health Organization's relationship with China during the COVID-19 pandemic
- ▪Song Li and the Chinese mission in Geneva did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding China's planned nomination to lead the World Health Organization
- ▪China plans to nominate Song Li to succeed Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as the Director-General of the World Health Organization
China's influence in multilateral organizations
- ▪China has announced additional funding for the World Health Organization but remains far from filling the financial gap left by the departure of the United States
- ▪China's planned nomination of Song Li is seen by diplomats as an effort to expand Beijing's influence and fill a void left by the United States' withdrawal from the World Health Organization
- ▪China has long sought to take on more responsibility within UN agencies and other multilateral bodies
US relations with the WHO
- ▪The United States under President Donald Trump withdrew from the World Health Organization, leading to a sweeping restructuring, scaled-back activities, and job cuts at the agency
- ▪The Trump administration criticized the World Health Organization's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and accused the agency of bias toward China, which the agency rejected
Debatable claims
- ▪Song Li's role in China's pandemic response disqualifies her from leading the WHO
- ▪The World Health Organization is biased toward China
- ▪China should take on greater leadership roles within United Nations agencies
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