Over 320,000 Sign Petition for Resignation of WHO Director-General Supporting China

Petitioners "WHO Must Remain Politically Neutral"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jin-gyu Lee] As concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) grow, voices are rising calling for the resignation of Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), who has been seen as siding with China.

On the 7th, according to the petition site 'Change' (www.change.org), a petition demanding the resignation of Director-General Ghebreyesus, holding him responsible for the spread of the novel coronavirus, was posted. On that day, more than 320,000 people agreed to the petition and signed it online.

The petitioner using the ID 'Osuka Yip' stated, "We believe that the WHO should be politically neutral," and criticized, "Without any other investigation, Director-General Ghebreyesus only trusts the numbers of infected and deceased provided by the Chinese government."

Despite the novel coronavirus spreading beyond China to neighboring countries, Director-General Ghebreyesus postponed declaring a 'Public Health Emergency of International Concern' on January 23. When the virus spread to the United States and Europe, he belatedly declared an emergency on January 30. However, he did not recommend travel or trade restrictions against China.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Even afterward, he continued to express support for China, believing in China's ability to control the novel coronavirus and stating that China's response prevented the virus from spreading overseas. This has led some to criticize that he might be influenced by the Chinese government, which announced in 2017 that it would invest about 10.2 trillion won in the WHO.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.