China criticizes U.S. for WHO pullout, accusing it of sidestepping international law

February 6, 2026 - 19:53

China has issued a sharp rebuke of the United States' formal withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), accusing the American administration of prioritizing domestic political concerns over its obligations to international law and global public health.

Official statements from Beijing emphasized that the unilateral move severely undermines international cooperation, particularly during the ongoing global pandemic. Chinese officials argued that such an action represents a significant retreat from multilateralism and hinders the collective fight against COVID-19. They stressed that global health challenges require a unified, science-based response coordinated through institutions like the WHO.

The criticism underscores a deepening diplomatic rift between the world's two largest economies on the stage of global governance. China framed the U.S. decision as an abandonment of leadership and a failure to uphold its responsibilities to the international community. The Chinese position calls for all nations to strengthen support for the WHO, asserting it is the essential forum for coordinating pandemic response and setting health policy standards worldwide. This development marks a further complication in international efforts to achieve a coordinated strategy against the virus.