China to give $500 million to WHO in next 5 years, official says

China has pledged an additional $500 million to the World Health Organization (WHO) over the next five years, Vice Premier Liu Guozhong announced at the World Health Assembly in Geneva. The move comes as the WHO grapples with a significant budget shortfall following the expected withdrawal of funding from its top donor, the United States, under the Trump administration.

Liu criticized "unilateralism and power politics," emphasizing multilateral cooperation as essential for global health security.

To manage the shortfall, the WHO has already slashed its 2026–2027 budget by 21% to $4.2 billion and plans to raise member states' mandatory contributions by 20% over two years. This shift would make China the WHO’s largest state contributor. However, it remains unclear whether China's $500 million pledge includes this mandatory fee increase.

The funding development could reshape global health governance, elevating China’s influence in the WHO as the organization seeks financial stability.