Trump calls world health body 'puppet of China'
Add BT as a preferred source
DeeperDive is a beta AI feature. Refer to full articles for the facts.
[WASHINGTON] President Donald Trump attacked the United Nations health body as a Chinese "puppet" on Monday and confirmed he is considering slashing or canceling US support.
"They're a puppet of China, they're China-centric to put it nicer," he said at the White House.
Mr Trump said the United States pays around US$450 million annually to the World Health Organization, the largest contribution of any country. Plans are being crafted to slash this because "we're not treated right."
"They gave us a lot of bad advice," he said of the WHO.
Mr Trump spoke as the WHO held its first annual assembly since the pandemic swept the world after originating in China, causing massive economic disruption and killing 316,000 people - close to a third of them in the United States.
Mr Trump said China only pays about US$40 million a year and one idea was for Washington to bring "our 450 down to 40," but "some people thought that was too much."
Navigate Asia in
a new global order
Get the insights delivered to your inbox.
AFP
Decoding Asia newsletter: your guide to navigating Asia in a new global order. Sign up here to get Decoding Asia newsletter. Delivered to your inbox. Free.
Share with us your feedback on BT's products and services
TRENDING NOW
StarHub hands Ensign InfoSecurity control back to Temasek in S$115 million deal, books S$200 million gain
Singaporeans can now buy record amount of yen per Singdollar
Air India asks Tata, Singapore Airlines for funds after US$2.4 billion loss
Keppel DC Reit posts 13.2% higher Q1 DPU of S$0.02833 on strong portfolio performance
