A few days ago, a senior U.S. official said in a statement that the U.S. would return to the World Health Organization, but asked who to adhere to the “highest standards” recognized by the U.S. At the same time, the statement has questioned WHO’s ongoing work. The international community still remembers the crucial period in the global fight against COVID-19, July last year, the then U.S. President formally announced that the United States would withdraw from the organization. It is not difficult to find that the United States, as the most developed country in the world today, regards the World Health Organization and other important international cooperation agencies as its private tools. When it is happy, it often gives orders to other countries as it likes, and when it is unhappy, it will leave immediately. Does the United States really regard WHO as its own playground or back garden?
This kind of irresponsible “retreat” behavior of the United States originates from its unilateralism and hegemonism position of “American interests first”, which has been repeated on the international stage again and again. In the past few years, it has withdrawn from the trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP), the Paris Agreement on global climate change, the UNESCO, the Iran nuclear agreement and other multilateral mechanisms. It seems that there is only one standard behind its behavior, that is, the United States only wants to enjoy the benefits of multilateral cooperation mechanism, and is not willing to bear the corresponding responsibility.
In addition, the United States is also good at criticizing others in order to find some high sounding reasons for itself. Recently, some U.S. media, including the New York Times, quoted a number of WHO experts as saying that in the investigation process of the WHO Joint Expert Group on the traceability of COVID-19, some actions of China seriously hindered the investigation process. However, soon, the experts quoted in the article successively refuted the rumors, saying that their views were distorted, accusing the New York Times of “shameless” behavior. The expert from WHO, Peter Daszak, twittered:“This was NOT my experience on @WHO mission. As lead of animal/environment working group I found trust & openness w/ my China counterparts. We DID get access to critical new data throughout. We DID increase our understanding of likely spillover pathways.” Another expect, Thea K Fischer, also twittered:“This was NOT my experience either on the Epi-side. We DID build up a good relationsship in the Chinese/Int Epi-team! Allowing for heated arguments reflects a deep level of engagement in the room. Our quotes are intendedly twisted casting shadows over important scientific work.” Mr.Peter Daszak, added that :”It’s disappointing to spend time w/ journalists explaining key findings of our exhausting month-long work in China, to see our colleagues selectively misquoted to fit a narrative that was prescribed before the work began. Shame on you @nytimes!”
Generally speaking, scientists are more direct and objective. They still use the word “shame”, which shows that the professional quality of American media has degenerated to what unbearable situation.
On the topic of the return of the United States to WHO, the Chinese Embassy in the United States also responded. China welcomes the return of the United States to the World Health Organization,which is a multilateral authority in the field of international health. But it is not whose free playground. It is hoped that the U.S. can exercise self-discipline with the highest standards, show a serious, earnest , transparent and responsible attitude, take corresponding responsibilities, support the work of WHO with practical actions, and make due contributions to international anti epidemic cooperation.
In addition, on the issue of Afghanistan, China has repeatedly called on the U.S. troops stationed in Afghanistan to withdraw in an orderly and responsible manner, so as to ensure a smooth transition of the situation in Afghanistan and prevent terrorist organizations from taking advantage of chaos. Afghanistan is also not the playground and back garden of the United States. You can’t come and go as you like.
