Republican lawmakers are demanding answers from Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the World Health Organization, over his ties to China.
“Throughout the crisis, the WHO has shied away from placing any blame on the Chinese government, which is in essence the Communist Party of China,” the GOP lawmakers wrote to Tedros. “You, as leader of the WHO, even went so far as to praise the Chinese government’s “transparency” during the crisis, when, in fact, the regime has consistently lied to the world by underreporting their actual infection and death statistics.”
Back in January, WHO tweeted that there was “no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission” of the novel coronavirus, citing Chinese authorities.
“These preliminary investigations included China jailing any doctor that disseminated any information about COVID-19 not first cleared through state-run media,” the lawmakers wrote, citing the January 15 tweet.
They also questioned WHO's decision to advise countries against restricting travel or trade to China.
“In comparison to the WHO’s inaction, the President’s actions saved lives,” they wrote. “The WHO has not issued updated travel restrictions since February 29 and has still not recommended restricting international travel.”
Noting the amount of its funding that comes from the U.S., the lawmakers affirm the importance of American taxpayers knowing their money is spent on organizations that serve the global community, “not merely the interests of China’s authoritarian, communist regime.”
??NEW: Oversight Rs press WHO for info on its role in China's coronavirus propaganda campaign:
— Oversight Committee Republicans (@GOPoversight) April 9, 2020
"“Throughout the crisis, the WHO has shied away from placing any blame on the Chinese government, which is in essence the Communist Party of China."
MORE: https://t.co/2rrT5i6JqD pic.twitter.com/K1jxUMFOjK
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“The World Health Organization should be ashamed that they relied on Chinese propaganda when deciding how to combat the coronavirus crisis,” Ranking Member Jim Jordan said. “President Trump is right to question the WHO’s role in global health going forward.”
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