Ethiopian with close ties to China elected as new WHO director-general

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus from Ethiopia has been elected as the next director-general of the World Health Organization, and will succeed the incumbent Dr. Margaret Chan for a five-year term. Though the Ethiopian''s election takes the leadership out of the hands of a Chinese ally, some observers worry that Ethiopia''s close relationship with China may work against Taiwan''s wish to attend the WHA in the years ahead. Oliver YenFTV ReporterWe’re now a couple hours away from the announcement of the election results, and US Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price has made a special appearance in this important meeting to describe what he feels should be the priorities for the new director-general.Tom PriceUS Secretary of Health and Human ServicesWhat an exciting day! The WHO must prepare for the next generation of challenges, focused on the future, not on the past. Before voters cast their ballots, the three candidates for director-general took turns at the podium sharing their visions for the future of the WHO. Of the finalists from the United Kingdom, Ethiopia and Pakistan. Ethiopian national Dr. Tedros, who campaigned under his first name, came out on top. Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung immediately sent a congratulatory letter to the new WHO director-general.Chen Shih-chungHealth and Welfare MinisterPolitical obstruction from China is inevitable. And in light of this new situation, we cannot continue holding on to naive optimism, though I do think the situation going forward will be better than before. Things won’t get worse from here. Lin Shih-chiaFoundation of Medical Professionals Alliance China often trades with African countries, exchanging arms for oil. Taiwan has fewer diplomatic allies in Africa, so we must put in more effort in that region. We just hope that the new director-general will be impartial. We’re not hoping for any special treatment for Taiwan. With a new director-general taking the helm of the WHO, the Foreign Ministry and the Health and Welfare Ministry must go back to the drawing board to devise a new strategy for Taiwan’s hopeful return to the WHA.