What changed
China is reportedly preparing a late nomination of Song Li to succeed Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as director-general of the World Health Organization. Song, a senior public-health official with 20 years of experience in maternal and child health and international cooperation, would join a contest already featuring six publicly identified candidates from Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Qatar, Botswana, Indonesia and Spain.
The WHO is expected to publish the full nominee list after regional committee meetings in early November. If elected, Song would become the second Chinese national to lead the agency.
Why it matters
The timing is significant. The United States has left the WHO, while the agency is restructuring after losing its largest donor, cutting activities, senior management posts and thousands of jobs. China has announced additional funding, but it has not replaced the gap left by the US.
That gives Beijing an opportunity to seek more influence inside an institution responsible for coordinating responses to disease outbreaks and health emergencies, including the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The planned nomination also puts the WHO’s relationship with China back under scrutiny, after disputes over the agency’s handling of Covid-19.
Song’s experience could fit the WHO’s technical work, particularly on maternal and child health. But her prospects are unknown, and China, Song and its Geneva mission have not confirmed the nomination. The next clear signal will be the complete candidate list expected in early November.
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