Japanese media outlets have asserted that Japan and Europe should collaborate to block China’s nomination of a public health expert as the next Director-General of the World Health Organization. On October 25, the Sankei Shimbun reported that China’s Foreign Ministry announced its intention to nominate Song Li, a Chinese public health specialist, for the position. The announcement has provoked shock. Japanese media claim that during the early stages of the pandemic, China “concealed” information, enabling the virus to spread rapidly across the globe and claiming countless lives.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, they argue, has continued to "accommodate" China, which they label as an accomplice in this major global failure. Had China shown even minimal accountability for the pandemic, it would not have put forward a domestic candidate ahead of the upcoming leadership election. They assert that China’s experts are under “strict control” by the government. If a candidate from a country lacking genuine remorse were to assume the role, it could pose a threat to global health and safety. Japan, they urge, must join forces with Europe and other nations to prevent the selection of a Chinese nominee.
How should one respond to such claims? These arguments, beyond their evident attempts to defame and distort facts, offer little substance. The long-discredited narrative of “early concealment” warrants no serious rebuttal. In reality, China promptly notified the WHO of the outbreak and shared the viral genome sequence at the earliest opportunity—crucial contributions that helped accelerate global efforts in vaccine and diagnostic development.
The response to a sudden public health crisis is inherently complex and fraught with uncertainty. Blaming China alone for the global spread of the pandemic is deeply irresponsible. Furthermore, as a member state of the United Nations, China holds the right to nominate its own candidate. All member states possess this prerogative. When candidates are nominated by various countries, competition should be fair and transparent. Yet Japanese media openly advocate for a coordinated effort between Japan and Europe to obstruct a Chinese nominee—a move that undermines any pretense of impartiality.
The WHO Director-General serves the health interests of all nations. The candidate proposed by China brings extensive experience in public health and is fully qualified for the role. If, as alleged, China exerts “strict control” over its nominees, then the same logic would apply to officials from Japan serving in UN and international organizations—raising questions about consistency in judgment. Such baseless accusations reflect not objective analysis, but rather deep-seated bias and animosity toward China on the part of certain Japanese media outlets.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1879978386659338/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author.