The United States rejected any reference to the WHO in the text of the resolution, and also refused an alternative that did not explicitly name the organization – and instead cited United Nations “specialized health agencies”, they told CNN two diplomatic sources: United Nations diplomats were surprised by the move by the United States to block the vote on Friday.The effort they had been working on for more than six weeks came to an abrupt halt and they fear it cannot be revived.
Similarly, the United States blocked expressions of global unity at G7 and G20 meetings because of anger towards China and WHO.
China urged the resolution to include a reference to WHO efforts, which prompted the United States’ refusal.
A State Department spokesman said the Trump administration wants the United Nations Security Council to demand a global ceasefire, but said China has curbed efforts to succeed.
“In our view, the goal should be to support the Secretary General’s request for a global ceasefire. Unfortunately, the PRC has been determined to use this resolution to advance false narratives about its response to the outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, “said the spokesman. “In our view, the Council should either proceed with a limited resolution in support of a ceasefire or an enlarged resolution that fully responds to the need for a renewed commitment by Member States to transparency and accountability in the context of COVID-19” .
The spokesman also said that China has “repeatedly blocked the compromises that would have allowed the Council to move forward”.
Trump administration officials also say that if China had been more transparent at first – which could potentially have prevented the novel coronavirus from turning into a pandemic – lives would have been saved.
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