Camilla Jessen
With the World Health Organization facing a major budget shortfall following the U.S. pullout.
China has announced a major financial lifeline to the World Health Organization (WHO), pledging an additional $500 million over the next five years to help stabilize the agency following the withdrawal of the United States, once its largest single contributor.
The commitment was announced during the WHO’s annual assembly in Geneva by Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guizhong, who said the donation would support the organization’s ability to operate in an “independent, professional, and scientific” manner.
The WHO is grappling with a significant budget shortfall following the departure of the U.S., whose 2024–2025 contributions topped $700 million — accounting for more than 10% of the agency’s total funding.
By contrast, China’s contributions during that period were around $200 million.
This was reported by Digi24.
A Strategic Shift in Global Health Influence
Liu’s speech took aim at what he described as the growing threat of “unilateralism”, hinting at Washington’s exit and calling instead for a multilateral approach to global health.
The world is facing the impact of unilateralism, which also entails challenges to global health,” Liu said. “Multilateralism is the way to deal with the difficulties and challenges of the world.
He also praised the newly adopted pandemic preparedness treaty and defended China’s handling of COVID-19, reiterating that early criticism of Beijing and the WHO had been “pointless.”
“China has been responsible and constructive, also regarding COVID-19, and over time it has proven that it was pointless to criticize our country and the WHO,” Liu stated.
U.S. Accuses WHO of Bowing to China
Despite its withdrawal from the WHO, the United States still made its voice heard during the assembly.
U.S. Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr., speaking in a video message, sharply criticized the agency for what he called “a lack of transparency and mismanagement.”
“The WHO has not only succumbed to political pressure from China, but has also failed to maintain a transparent and well-managed organization,” Kennedy said.