The Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, urged the international community to trust the WHO. (Image via Malay Mail)

Abe calls for all nations to support WHO

It is no secret that Japan and the United States (U.S) are best friends. Recently this week, the President of the U.S, Donald Trump, stated that he would halt funding to the World Health Organization (WHO), accusing the Geneva-based organization of failing to control the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak and taking side with China.

So, it should have been normal if Japan said likewise, right? Wrong. Japan said otherwise. The Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, spread a message of peace, urging the international community to trust the WHO and said that if the allegations are proven true, it should be addressed once the COVID-19.

Moreover, German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, also defended WHO’s performance on the conference call with Trump and the other Group of Seven (G7) leaders. Abe urged the international community to cooperate with WHO because it is the only international health institution they have to tackle the pandemic.

Speaking to the reporters in Tokyo, Abe pointed out that the cooperation of the WHO is essential in tackling COVID-19. Regarding budget cuts, Abe said that Japan is not thinking about it at all, adding that WHO should be supported.

Once again, while cultivating ties with Trump, Abe said that the matter with the WHO should be reviewed once the COVID-19 is over. Not as an enemy, but as correction should similar pandemic reoccur in the future.

Abe said that there are various opinions about WHO, and some are not politically neutral. Altogether, Japan has long cried out to make Taiwan as a part of the WHO, at least an observer.

Last December, Abe and the Director-General of WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, spoke together for The Washington Post, calling on the world to adopt universal health coverage.

Source: https://bloom.bg/3cpOXty