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Coronavirus pandemic
ChinaDiplomacy

Coronavirus: China donates another US$30 million to WHO after US funding halt

  • It’s the second contribution from Beijing during the pandemic and ‘reflects support and trust’ for the World Health Organisation
  • The agency has been criticised for its response to the outbreak in China, which the US – its top donor – is investigating

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Beijing’s foreign ministry said the donation “reflects the support and trust of the Chinese government and people for the WHO”. Photo: AP
Kinling Lo
China has donated another US$30 million to the WHO after US President Donald Trump announced his intention to suspend funding to the global health body, accusing it of siding with Beijing on the coronavirus outbreak.
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It is the second time China – where the first cases of the virus were reported late last year – has provided additional funding to the World Health Organisation during the pandemic, after it announced a US$20 million donation in early March.

Beijing has pledged to step up support for the Geneva-based organisation after repeated criticism of its response to the crisis, including from Trump, who claims the WHO mismanaged and covered up the spread of the virus and was too trusting of Beijing.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang announced the latest donation on Thursday, saying the combined US$50 million would “support the global fight against Covid-19 and strengthen developing countries’ health systems”.

Geng added that China’s contribution to the UN agency “reflects the support and trust of the Chinese government and people for the WHO”.

Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying reinforced the message on Twitter, saying the funding would be used to help developing countries.

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