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Coronavirus pandemic
Opinion
SCMP Editorial
Editorial
SCMP Editorial

WHO-led probe into virus the best option

  • US calls for an independent investigation have come to nothing, and now the world health body must show that it can proceed without preconditions or perceptions of guilt or bias

2-MIN READ2-MIN
The World Health Assembly has adopted a resolution for an independent investigation into the coronavirus pandemic, including the WHO’s response to it. Photo: AFP
SCMP Editorial
Editorials represent the views of the South China Morning Post on the issues of the day.

Thankfully multilateralism has prevailed in the World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the World Health Organisation. The United States stepped back from its feud with China over blame for the spread of the coronavirus to back a resolution for an independent investigation into the origin and handling of the outbreak. by the WHO and health authorities.

This followed President Xi Jinping’s address to the assembly in which he said China agreed to a comprehensive, objective review of the global response after Covid-19 is brought under control, to be led by the WHO. This is different to the independent international review proposed by Australia and supported by the US and a number of other countries, seen to target China. Admittedly, the WHO will in the end be taking part in an investigation of its own performance, following a lot of pressure and criticism that it was too close to China, particularly from the US.

But it should not be seen in the narrow context of rivalry between Washington and Beijing or scapegoating of the WHO. The resolution was initially proposed by scores of members, including US allies, and eventually adopted by all. An abiding tone of the resolution is continuing support for the WHO. That makes sense, given that it is the only global organisation with the expertise, experience and information networks needed to help member nations fight Covid-19. It is typified by Xi’s pledge of US$2 billion to help countries fight the virus and China’s undertaking to open its research to the WHO. The resolution also said the WHO would work with the World Organisation for Animal Health and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation to identify the zoonotic source of the virus and how it spread to humans.
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The need to coordinate efforts to develop a vaccine is paramount. But these things can only happen with the goodwill of member states. The resolution does provide a more comprehensive approach to tackling Covid-19. It is a good first step, subject to inherent limitations on what the WHO can do on its own account. There are very strong reasons for getting to the bottom of the outbreak, both to fight it and prevent a recurrence. We need to find how this happened blow by blow. It is therefore important that the investigation is undertaken without preconditions or perceptions of guilt or bias.

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