Global Developments and Analysis: Weekly Monitor, 17 May - 23 May 2021

Economic

China is changing the way money is lent to countries in need

Of the many changes that COVID-19 has hastened, the way the U.S.-based International Monetary Fund and the World Bank execute policy has been among the most remarkable. Gone are the harsh conditions that both institutions have attached to project finance since the 1980s, a policy approach known as the Washington Consensus. Often, governments had no choice but to agree, creating resentment all over the world -- especially in Asia -- as the Washington Consensus came to symbolize how nonelected institutions can impose draconian conditions on sovereign nations. But things are changing. In response to COVID, the IMF has made $250 billion available to various lending facilities and to help with debt service relief, with a further $107 million in financial assistance going to 85 countries. But would such a turn have come about without China's transformation into a very significant lender to countries in need? China is now the largest official source of development finance in the world, surpassing lending by any single multilateral institution or other bilateral lenders, including the U.S.
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EU parliament votes to freeze signing of Chinese investment pact until Beijing lifts sanctions on European politicians

The European Parliament has voted 599-30 to suspend the ratification of a major investment deal with China until Beijing removes sanctions placed on EU politicians who raised concerns about human rights violations against Uighurs. May 20’s vote has stalled the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment, which was agreed in 2020 after seven years of bilateral negotiations in which Brussels aimed to make Beijing a valued trading partner of the bloc. The resolution, which is technically not legally binding on the body, calls on the Chinese government to “lift the sanctions” before the parliament will continue “dealing with the investment accord,” while warning that if Beijing fails to remove the measures, “EU-China relations may not continue business as usual.” The sanctions on 10 EU politicians were announced by Beijing in March in retaliation for Western measures against Chinese officials allegedly involved in human rights violations against Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang. Five of the EU figures subject to sanctions are on the parliament’s human rights sub-committee, with one of those targeted, Reinhard Butikofer, describing Beijing’s actions as a “miscalculated” move that the Chinese government should “rethink.”
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EU and US agree to trade war ceasefire to focus on ‘holding China to account’

The European Union and United States have agreed to halt their trade war, which was sparked by tariffs imposed under former President Donald Trump, to focus on holding nations that “support trade-distorting policies to account.” The move was announced in a joint statement on May 17 after the European Commission said it would not proceed with a planned set of retaliatory tariffs for six months to allow the two sides to address shared concerns which had led to the trade dispute. Explaining the decision, the EU and US stated that, as allies, halting their trade war can allow them to focus on jointly promoting high standards globally, and fighting back against “countries like China that support trade-distorting policies.” The ‘truce’ has averted potential embarrassment for President Joe Biden by preventing tariffs from being imposed on American companies by the European bloc one month before he visits Brussels. However, the head of the European Parliament’s trade committee, Bernd Lange, has warned the White House that Biden will have to bring a “tangible commitment to reciprocate the EU gesture” during the Brussels-Washington DC summit, or the commission could push ahead with introducing the retaliatory measures.
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Japan to restrict use of foreign tech in telecom, power grids

The Japanese government will introduce new regulations for 14 critical infrastructure sectors to bolster cyber defences, learning from the recent Colonial Pipeline hack that shut down a major energy artery in America's East Coast. The sectors include telecommunications, electricity, finance, railroads, government services and health care. The government will require operators of such key infrastructure to address national security concerns when procuring foreign-made equipment. The potential for cyberattacks and information leaks has grown over the years as telecom carriers and public utilities increasingly rely on digital technologies to operate and monitor their facilities. Japan hopes to mitigate risks posed by compromised equipment and connections, especially amid growing concerns of data leaks from Chinese-made telecommunications equipment. The government plans to amend the various laws governing each sector in one sweeping motion and add a clause requiring each sector to be conscious of national security risks. Currently the government does not have a legal basis to assess national security risks when infrastructure operators upgrade their systems.
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Snubbed by the West, China courts ASEAN at Belt and Road expo

The Belt and Road expo held in southwestern China that kicked off this week was billed as an opportunity to join "hands with the West for a bright future." The guest list featured a who's who of Western blue-chip companies invited to invest in the massive infrastructure project that is a center piece of Chinese President Xi Jinping's foreign policy. The only problem, none of them showed. In response, Chinese organizers are using the expo, which held its opening ceremony on May 21, as a venue to highlight partnerships with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. "We will deepen economic exchange with ASEAN and share business opportunities in China's inland region," Chongqing Mayor Tang Liangzhi said at the event. Tang oversees economic policy under Chen Min'er, the Communist Party secretary of Chongqing, the top position in the city. Chen is considered a close ally of Xi. In attendance at the expo were senior government officials from Singapore, Vietnam, Laos and other countries active in Belt and Road. Marubeni, the Japanese trading group, said it has agreed to strategic tie-ups with Chongqing in areas such as infrastructure and logistics. The event has brought in 228.5 billion yuan ($35.4 billion) in contracts for major projects, according to figures from the Chongqing government, down 30% from 2019's total.
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Climate change: Scrap new fossil fuel projects to reach net-zero, says IEA

All future fossil fuel projects must be scrapped in order to meet the global target of net zero carbon emissions by mid-century, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on May 18. The recommendation is part of a special report drafted to guide negotiators at the COP26 climate summit scheduled to be held in Glasgow in November. IEA Executive Director FatihBirol said the roadmap highlighted in the report showed that the path to global net-zero by 2050 was "narrow but still achievable. "The IEA roadmap includes more than 400 milestones on the path to net-zero by 2050, including "no new oil and gas fields approved for development" beyond projects that are already committed as of 2021. It also says that the sale of new internal combustion engine passenger cars would have to end by 2035, and that energy efficiency would need to improve 4% annually this decade — around three times faster than the current rate. It added that almost 90% of electricity generation could come from renewables by 2050, and most of the remaining share could come from nuclear power. New innovations that haven't reached a commercial scale yet, like carbon capture and storage (CCS) and green hydrogen, will also need to play a role, the report said.
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CNOOC erects 15,000-ton offshore oil platform in South China Sea

China's largest domestically designed offshore oil platform, Lufeng 14-4 central platform completed deployment, and will be put into operation at the end of 2021, according to a statement by the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) released on May 19. The platform will provide stable oil and gas supplies for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The platform located in the South China Sea about 200 kilometers southeast from Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and the structure's weight is equal to three Eiffel Towers. The assembling of the platform is challenging due to connection between the 15,000-ton-upper part of the platform and the bottom tubes must be done by the floating assemble techniques which makes use of tide power. After 10 years of development and research, China has overcome barriers of floating assemble technique which has low cost and high efficiency, putting China in a leading position in erecting offshore oil platforms in the world. CNOOC said that its domestic offshore oil and gas output surpassed 65 million tons in 2020, and vowed to accelerate oil and gas production during the 14th Five Year Plan 2021-25.
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Bitcoin, cryptocurrencies plunge after China issues restrictions

The price of Bitcoin plummeted further on May 19 after China banned banks and payment firms from providing services related to cryptocurrency transactions. Beijing made trading in cryptocurrency illegal in 2019 amid fear about money laundering, but people were still able to make transactions online. The price of the world's most valuable cryptocurrency fell from $45,600 to $38,570 by the close of trade on May 19, its lowest since early February, and well off the record high of $64,870 seen last month. Despite a strong rally later in trading, its lowest ebb on May 19 was south of the $34,000 mark. The plunge in Bitcoin also dragged down the value of other "alt" coins, with Ethereum and Dogecoin losing as much as 25% and 29% on May 19. In announcing their decision, Chinese regulators also warned of speculative trading that could harm the country's financial system. Bitcoin's price fluctuations "seriously violate people's asset safety and disrupt normal economic and financial order," said a statement by the People's Bank of China.
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The billion-dollar UAE-Israel gas deal will go forward

In April, the United Arab Emirates’ Mubadala Petroleum, which belongs to Mubadala Investment Co, a sovereign wealth fund with $232bn in assets, signed a memorandum of understanding to buy a 22 percent stake in Israel’s Tamar offshore field. Once completed, this will be the biggest business deal between the two Middle Eastern nations since they normalised their ties in August 2020. While the recent escalation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel’s ongoing bombing of the Gaza Strip are expected to significantly increase the political risks associated with investing in the Israeli oil and gas sector, they are unlikely to deter Mubadala from completing the landmark deal. The UAE has a lot to gain from the purchase, believed to be worth as much as $1.1bn, both economically and politically. Moreover, Israel is determined to complete the Mubadala deal at any cost, as it will increase other foreign investors’ interest in its oil and gas sector. The majority of industry giants, including ExxonMobil and Total, abstained from participating in Israel’s previous bidding rounds, explaining their decision by pointing to the “complex” geopolitical situation around the country’s energy resources.
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Oil slumps two percent on possible return of Iranian supply

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said world powers have accepted that significant sanctions on his country will be lifted, but also added that diplomats were still ironing out the ‘details and finer points’. Oil slumped to the lowest in nearly a month as traders focussed on the likelihood of a renewed nuclear deal with Iran and the potential removal of sanctions on the country’s crude exports. Futures fell 2.1% in New York on Thursday, posting a third straight decline in the longest losing streak since March. Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said world powers have accepted that major sanctions on his country will be lifted. But he said diplomats are still discussing “details and finer points” before there’s “a final agreement.” The prospect of a return of Iranian supply is also being reflected in Brent’s prompt time spread. The spread’s backwardation narrowed to just a few cents, a sign that market tightness may be easing.Oil is “in a holding pattern until we get to June, because that’s when Europe’s going to start to reopen and the U.S. driving season will have officially kicked off,” said Jay Hatfield, CEO of Infrastructure Capital Management.
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Strategic

Blinken and Lavrov stress dialogue despite 'serious differences'

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in his first meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, a veteran diplomat, said it was "no secret that we have our differences" and that Washington would respond to aggressive acts by Russia, but that the world would be safer if the two countries' leaders worked together. Lavrov, speaking through a translator at the opening of the meeting in Reykjavik on the sidelines of an Arctic Council meeting, said Russia and the United States have "serious differences" but have to cooperate "in spheres where our interests collide." Blinken said Biden wanted "a predictable, stable relationship with Russia" and said the two countries could work together on tackling the coronavirus pandemic, combating climate change, dealing with Iran and North Korea's nuclear programs, and the war in Afghanistan. Lavrov said the talks were "constructive" and the two diplomats would prepare proposals for a possible meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to Russian state media. A read out of the meeting from State Department spokesman Ned Price did not mention the possible presidential summit.
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Xi prepares to skip over '6th generation'

Party officials have begun to whisper about the tragedy of the "Sixth Generation" -- the term has become meaningless. "It has become politically difficult to speak of Sixth-Generation leaders," one party official said. "This generation has been passed up, and attention has shifted to the younger generation of people currently around 50." Also whoever joins the Standing Committee will not have the honour of being placed on the path toward becoming the top party leader. Furthermore, the powers of Politburo Standing Committee members and of the premier might be greatly diminished. Xi has concentrated power in his hands. Instead of simply staying in the posts of party general secretary and Chinese president, he will probably aim for attaining even higher status, possibly that of party chairman. That title, which Mao held for life, was formally abolished in 1982 by Deng to prevent a dictatorship. If the post is revived and held by Xi, the status of Politburo Standing Committee members and of the premier will decline. The construction of a new governance system is about to begin behind the scenes. That institutional design could have more significance than any personnel change.
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Biden and Moon align on North Korea but walk fine line on China

U.S. President Joe Biden and South Korean President Moon Jae-in showed unity regarding North Korea while papering over any differences on China when they met at the White House on May 21. Biden said he is willing to meet with Kim Jong Un if the North Korean leader makes a commitment "that there's discussion about his nuclear arsenal." The American president said he will not agree to meet if giving Kim "international recognition" is the sole outcome of such a face-to-face. When it came to China, the leaders avoided direct references during their joint news conference in the evening. In a joint statement released afterward, the presidents said they "emphasize the importance of preserving peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait." Biden and Moon agreed to "work together to increase the global supply of legacy chips for automobiles," and to support leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing in both countries "through the promotion of increased mutual investments as well as research and development cooperation," the joint statement says. Moon's visit makes him the second foreign leader Biden has hosted in Washington as president, after Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.
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‘We must not allow ourselves to be drawn into US-China confrontation’ – France’s chief of defense staff

A top French military official has said that while it will be difficult for the EU to forge a “common political identity,” Europe must not be forced to choose sides in the rivalry between the US and China. In an interview with Le Figaro, the chief of the defense staff, Army General Francois Lecointre, spoke about the dangers coming from powers that “challenge the stability and international law,” in particular, Russia, China, and Iran. “We are heading towards a reorganization of the world order that is structured around the competition between the United States and China,” the general said, adding that every nation “will be called upon to choose sides.” It will be very difficult exactly because neither France, nor Europe is interested in it. While our relations with the United States cannot be called into question, which is essential, we must not allow ourselves to be drawn into an unnuanced confrontation that may emerge between China and the United States. French President Emmanuel Macron said earlier this year that it would be “counterproductive” for the EU to unequivocally join the US in its rivalry with Beijing.
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New Zealand will manage China ties in 'predictable' way: minister

New Zealand's minister for trade and export growth aims to build on his country's business with its No. 1 partner, China, while reserving the right to address concerns at the appropriate time and place. The relationship with China is "one of our most significant," Damien O'Connor stressed in an interview with Nikkei Asia on May 21, in conjunction with an appearance at Nikkei's Future of Asia conference.He noted that New Zealand had enjoyed huge benefits from the free trade agreement it signed with China in 2008. But Wellington has also raised eyebrows across its Five Eyes intelligence partners -- the U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia -- for its reluctance to present a united front on issues including human rights in China. O'Connor said there will be some points of "difference" that New Zealand will "raise with China in a predictable way." "They appreciate our position on these," he said of Beijing. Meanwhile, "the areas where we agreed, the value of our trade agreements, and our interactions culturally -- those things will be built on." He said New Zealand would leave "the door open for other issues which will be addressed in the appropriate forum."
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Israel, Hamas agree on Gaza ceasefire proposed by Egypt to end 11-day conflict

The Israeli government has agreed to a mutual ceasefire with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, proposed by Egypt that would put an end to 11 days of rocket strikes on Israel and IDF bombardment of Gaza. Israel has accepted the Egyptian-mediated ceasefire proposal, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed on May 20 evening local time. National Security Adviser Meir Ben Shabbat was authorized to start talks with Egypt on the ceasefire initiative, to work out the details and the starting date, Israeli media reported. The truce will be "mutual and unconditional," the Israeli cabinet said in a statement. Meanwhile, Hamas and Islamic Jihad have confirmed in a statement that they will observe the ceasefire. Earlier, Reuters cited a Hamas official who said a “mutual and simultaneous” truce with Israel will begin at 2am local time on May 21. News of the possible ceasefire came just hours after Russia announced it was planning to evacuate its citizens – along with those of former Soviet republics – from Gaza, having told Israel on May 19 that “a further increase in the number of civilian casualties would be unacceptable.”
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Arctic Council adopts first strategic vision for High North

Foreign ministers from the eight Arctic Council nations adopted the forum's first strategic plan to combat climate change and promote sustainable economic development in the sensitive region during their meeting May 20 in Iceland's capital, Reykjavik. The members, which include the U.S., Russia and Canada, outlined policy objectives through 2030 and agreed in the plan that "norms and standards that affect Arctic waters" need to be developed, as maritime activity increases with the melting of the ice. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken attended the ministerial meeting for the first time. At the last biennial gathering, hosted by Finland in 2019, the council could not issue a joint declaration due to opposition from the Trump administration regarding phrases related to climate change. The Reykjavik declaration issued this time reaffirmed the importance of "further developing sustainable economic growth in the Arctic." But while the members agreed on the need for fast action to tackle climate change, differences linger on issues such as governance of the Northern Sea Route. Russia aims to enact rules such as having all foreign ships report passage through the Northern Sea Route in advance, but other countries oppose this effort.
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Psaki raises white flag, admits US had no way of stopping Nord Stream 2 that was ‘95% complete’ already

White House press secretary Jen Psaki defended the Biden administration’s decision to waive sanctions against Nord Stream 2 by saying the Russia-Germany pipeline was nearly complete and nothing could be done to stop it. The US State Department announced on May 19 it was sanctioning a number of ships and companies, but immediately waived the sanctions against Nord Stream 2 AG and its CEO Matthias Warnig, citing national interests. Asked about this on May 20, Psaki told Fox News reporter Peter Doocy that the US continues to oppose the pipeline as a “Russian geopolitical project” but that it was mostly completed by the time Joe Biden was sworn in as president. Doocy had pointed out that one of Biden’s first moves was to cancel the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada as a way of showing “climate leadership,” which, he said, hardly fit allowing Nord Stream 2 to continue. “In what way were we going to stop a project in another country that had been built 95%?” Psaki retorted, adding that Washington has signalled opposition to it via “public and private channels,” including May 19’s sanctions.
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Tribal elders secure month-long ceasefire between Taliban and Afghan government after international mediators fail

Afghan tribal elders have successfully negotiated a ceasefire between Taliban fighters and the country’s government, effecting a pause in the intense fighting that’s occurred ahead of America’s withdrawal from the region. The agreement, signed by local representatives, was negotiated by elders in the Alingar district to allow farmers to harvest their crops and students to complete their exams safely, and will remain in place until June 21. Speaking after the ceasefire was negotiated, one of the elders, Qari Nabi Sarwar, said it was necessary because “the Taliban and Afghan forces were fingers-on-triggers, looking for a small excuse to fire at each other.” One resident praised the elders for managing to negotiate a halt to the fighting when global leaders had failed to do so. “A ceasefire has been something the world’s most powerful countries were trying to establish in Afghanistan, but unfortunately, couldn’t,” Jaber Alkozai told reporters on May 19. Tribal figures had sought to secure a break in the fighting over concerns that farmers in the district would otherwise have lost another year of wheat, with crops in previous years being destroyed by stray rockets and ammunition.
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Belarus: EU calls for international probe into forced landing of Ryanair plane

Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell on May 24 called for an international investigation after Belarus forced a Ryanair passenger jet to land in Minsk, in an apparent effort to arrest an activist journalist. "In carrying out this coercive act, the Belarusian authorities have jeopardized the safety of passengers and crew," Borrell said in a statement issued on May 24. "An international investigation into this incident must be carried out to ascertain any breach of international aviation rules," the statement went on. The president of the European Council, Charles Michel, said EU leaders will discuss the incident at an EU summit beginning on May 24 evening, adding that the affair would not remain "without consequences." He called on the Belarusian authorities to immediately release the detained passenger, Raman Pratasevich. An EU spokesman said the leaders would discuss "possible sanctions" on Belarus. "All EU leaders are on the same page, even the direct neighbouring countries like Poland and the Baltics. It seems as though Belarus has crossed a red line," he said.
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Myanmar's Suu Kyi appears in court for first time since coup

Myanmar's ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi appeared in court on May 24 to face a change of "incitement to sedition," her lawyers said. Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest and had not been seen in public since the February 1 military coup that overthrew her government. Lawyer Thae Maung Maung told Reuters news agency that Suu Kyi looked in good health and held a face-to-face meeting with her legal team for about 30 minutes before the court hearing. In recent weeks, the 75-year-old answered questions in court by video link. Her lawyers had not been able to meet her in person. "She said she was praying for everyone to get well. She said the party was formed for the people, so it will exist as long as the people exist," Frontier Myanmar quoted Suu Kyi's lawyer as saying. The head of Myanmar’s military-appointed election commission recently said his agency was considering dissolving Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party for alleged involvement in electoral fraud. Suu Kyi is accused of sedition, violating a state secrets law and breaking coronavirus containment measures among other charges.
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Growing mystery of suspected energy attacks draws US concern

The Biden administration is facing new pressure to resolve a mystery that has vexed its predecessors: Is an adversary using a microwave or radio wave weapon to attack the brains of US diplomats, spies and military personnel? The number of reported cases of possible attack is sharply growing and lawmakers from both parties, as well as those believed to be affected, are demanding answers. But scientists and government officials aren’t yet certain about who might have been behind any attacks, if the symptoms could have been caused inadvertently by surveillance equipment - or if the incidents were actually attacks. Whatever an official review concludes could have enormous consequences. Confirmation that a US adversary has been conducting damaging attacks against US personnel would unleash calls for a forceful response by the United States. For now, the administration is providing assurances that it takes the matter seriously, is investigating aggressively and will make sure those affected have good medical care. The problem has been labelled the “Havana Syndrome", because the first cases affected personnel in 2016 at the US Embassy in Cuba.
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US general: As US scales back in Mideast, China may step in

As the United States scales back its military presence across the Middle East to focus on great power competition with China and Russia, it risks giving those two countries a chance to fill the gap and expand their influence around the Gulf, the top US commander for the region said on May 23. While travelling through the Middle East over the past week, Marine General Frank McKenzie, who heads US Central Command, fielded a persistent question from the military and political leaders he met: Is the US still committed to their country and the region, and what more support can they get. Speaking in his hotel room after meeting with Saudi officials, McKenzie said weapons sales would be one need that Moscow and Beijing could exploit. Russia, he said, tries to sell air defence systems and other weapons to whomever it can, and China has a long-term goal to expand its economic power and ultimately establish military bases in the region. In the few short months since President Joe Biden took office, he has ordered the full withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and begun to review America's force presence in Iraq, Syria and around the globe.
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Lebanon’s FM asks to quit after ISIL comments anger Gulf States

Lebanon’s foreign minister has asked the president to be relieved of his duties, the presidency said, after his televised comments appearing to blame Gulf States for the rise of ISIL (ISIS) caused a diplomatic firestorm. “Those countries of love, friendship and fraternity, they brought us Islamic State,” Charbel Wehbe, who is a minister in the caretaker government, told Alhurra TV on Monday, without naming the countries. Wehbe made the comment during a verbal duel with a Saudi guest on the show, who blamed Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun for “handing over” his country to the Lebanese Shia movement, Hezbollah, which is backed by Riyadh’s rival Tehran. The comments have threatened Lebanese efforts amid a deep economic crisis to improve ties with Sunni Muslim Gulf states, which have been reluctant to offer the kind of financial help they once did because of their frustration at the rising influence of Hezbollah. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain summoned Lebanon’s ambassadors and issued formal complaints against the “insulting” remark.
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Medical

‘Obscene to put profits before saving lives’: 9 new Big Pharma billionaires emerge amid Covid-19 vaccine rollout

The CEOs of Moderna and BioNTech top the list of nine individuals who became billionaires on the back of the rollout of vaccines against Covid-19, a group advocating turning vaccine receipts into a global public good has said. Much of the scientific research that went into the creation of effective vaccines against Covid-19 was paid for by taxpayer money, but the private companies that hold monopolies on the resulting intellectual property (IP) are the ones that reap the rewards. Forbes data updated in April shows that nine Big Pharma figures have become dollar billionaires since the beginning of the pandemic, as the stocks of vaccine manufacturers soared with the news of robust profits. Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel is the richest new ‘vaccine billionaire,’ followed by UgurSahin, his counterpart from BioNTech. Each is now worth over $4 billion. Others on the list include three Moderna investors, the chair of a firm contracted to manufacture and package Moderna’s product, and the three co-founders of the Chinese vaccine producer CanSino Biologics. Eight others who have seen their wealth grow significantly include people linked to China’s Chongqing Zhifei Biological and Sinopharm, India’s Cadila Healthcare and the Serum Institute of India, and holders of BioNTech stock.
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Taiwan slams WHO 'indifference' as it fails to win invite

Taiwan's government slammed the World Health Organization's (WHO) "indifference" to the health rights of Taiwanese people and for capitulating to China on May 24 after failing to get invited to a meeting of its decision-making body. Taiwan is excluded from most global organizations such as the WHO because of the objections of China, which considers the island one of its provinces not a country. Taiwan, with the strong backing of major Western powers, had been lobbying for access to the WHO's World Health Assembly, which opens on May 24, as an observer. In a joint statement by Foreign Minister Joseph Wu and Health Minister Chen Shih-chung, Taiwan's government said that they would continue to seek participation. "As a professional international health body, the World Health Organization (WHO) should serve the health and welfare of all humanity and not capitulate to the political interests of a certain member," Chen said, referring to China. Wu expressed regret at the "WHO Secretariat's continued indifference to the health rights of Taiwan's 23.5 million people".
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Wuhan lab staff sought hospital care before COVID-19 outbreak disclosed: Report

Three researchers from China's Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) sought hospital care in November 2019, months before China disclosed the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wall Street Journal reported on May 23, citing a previously undisclosed US intelligence report. The newspaper said the report - which provides fresh details on the number of researchers, affected the timing of their illnesses, and their hospital visits - may add weight to calls for a broader probe of whether the COVID-19 virus could have escaped from the laboratory. The report came on the eve of a meeting of the World Health Organization's (WHO) decision-making body, which is expected to discuss the next phase of an investigation into the origins of COVID-19. A National Security Council spokeswoman had no comment on the Journal's report but said the Biden administration continued to have "serious questions about the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, including its origins within the People's Republic of China".
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At least 115,000 healthcare workers have died from COVID-19: WHO

At least 115,000 healthcare workers have died from COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, the World Health Organization's (WHO) chief said on May 24, calling for a dramatic scale-up of vaccination in all countries. At the opening of the WHO's main annual assembly, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus hailed the sacrifices made by healthcare workers around the world to battle the pandemic. "For almost 18 months, health and care workers all over the world have stood in the breach between life and death," he said. "They have saved countless lives and fought for others who, despite their best efforts, slipped away." Many have themselves become infected, and while reporting is scant, we estimate that at least 115,000 health and care workers have paid the ultimate price in the service of others. He said since the start of the crisis, many healthcare workers have felt "frustrated, helpless and unprotected, with a lack of access to personal protective equipment and vaccines". And they are not alone. He described the overall inequity in access to vaccines as "scandalous", warning it was "perpetuating the pandemic".
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