U.S. begins to withdraw from WHO

In the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, different groups in Washington have taken different stances on the WHO membership, against the backdrop of the forthcoming general elections scheduled for November.

As Trump pushed the withdrawal from the WHO, Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, however, said he would rejoin the WHO immediately if he wins.

“Americans are safer when America is engaged in strengthening global health. On my first day as President, I will rejoin the @WHO and restore our leadership on the world stage,” the former vice president tweeted.

Meanwhile, critics said behind Trump’s WHO attacks are “an attempt to deflect blame from his own mishandling of the coronavirus outbreak — and one that will end up hurting the U.S.,” said a report by USA Today on Tuesday.

“Deflecting blame onto the WHO won’t reverse the administration’s mistakes or undo the suffering our country has endured,” said Representative Eliot Engel for New York’s 16th congressional district.

“The president needs to get serious about stopping this pandemic’s lethal spread by restoring our membership in the WHO, ramping up testing, and encouraging everyone to practice social distancing and wear masks,” said Engel, also chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Amanda Glassman, a public health expert and executive vice president of the Center for Global Development think tank, warned the world is facing not only the current threat of COVID-19 but also the treat of future pandemics.

“Withdrawal is counterintuitive at best and dangerous to human life at worst. The U.S. Congress should immediately explore what power it has to prevent this from happening,” Glassman said.

“The U.S. should use its influence to strengthen and reform the WHO, not abandon it at a time when the world needs it most,”

said Gayle Smith, who served on the National Security Council and other top positions in the Obama administration.

Source: Xinhua