China steps up to fill US leadership void with $500 million WHO pledge

China has pledged $500 million to the World Health Organization over five years as the country is set to replace the U.S. as the agency’s top state donor following President Donald Trump’s order for withdrawal in January.

Why it matters: Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong announced the contribution at Tuesday’s World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva. “The world is now facing the impacts of unilateralism and power politics, bringing major challenges to global health security,” Liu said, adding that “only with solidarity and mutual assistance can we create a healthy world together.” Due to the expected loss of its top donor, the WHO has revised its 2026-2027 budget down 21% to $4.2 billion. The new budget will increase countries’ mandatory fees by 20% over two years, making China the largest state contributor.

The big picture: The donation highlights Beijing’s strategy to step into global leadership roles as Washington retreats from international cooperation under Trump’s “America First” policy. On Monday, China alongside Pakistan successfully blocked Taiwan’s participation in the WHA for the ninth consecutive year, with Chinese Ambassador Chen Xu calling the participation proposal an attempt that “openly challenges the authority of the UN and the post-war international order.”