An international organization controlled by China, not just WHO
(Masatoshi Fujitani: Policy Advocate, Japan Strategic Research Forum, Former Director, Public Security Intelligence Agency, Kanazawa)
Immediately after the outbreak of the new coronavirus, the World Health Organization (WHO) made a series of mysterious movements, such as not declaring that it was a pandemic. The honeymoon relationship between WHO Secretary-General Tedros Adhanom (Ethiopia) and China is now a fairly well-known fact, but China’s move to control international organizations is not limited to WHO. Currently, of the 15 UN Specialized Agencies, in addition to WHO, which is under the strong influence of China, there are three organizations: the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The Chinese are at the top (until August 2021 this year, four institutions including the International Civil Aviation Organization).
By placing its citizens at the top of international organizations, China has transformed the role of international organizations in favor of China, creating rules and disseminating information closer to its own country.
China aims to expand its influence at the United Nations
China’s UN-focused stance was the first Chinese to show its commitment to the United Nations in 2003, when Shi Jiuyong, who served as a legal representative and advisor to the Chinese government and was involved in negotiations between China and the United Kingdom regarding Hong Kong, was the first Chinese to do so. It begins with the appointment of the director of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), a major body of the United Nations. In 2007, Hong Kong-born Margaret Chan became WHO Secretary-General.
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