China is preparing to nominate senior public health official Song Li for the post of World Health Organization (WHO) director-general, according to diplomatic and other sources, potentially adding a new contender to the leadership race.
Song, who has around two decades of experience in maternal and child health policy and international cooperation, could be nominated to succeed current WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The planned nomination comes as the WHO faces financial and operational pressures following the United States’ decision to withdraw from the organisation. The agency has been restructuring its operations, reducing activities and cutting jobs after losing its largest donor.
China has sought to strengthen its role in multilateral institutions and has announced additional funding for the WHO. A late entry by a Chinese candidate could further increase Beijing’s influence within the global health agency.
The WHO is expected to publish the full list of candidates after regional committee meetings scheduled for early November. Six candidates from Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Qatar, Botswana, Indonesia and Spain have already publicly announced their bids.
Song could also face scrutiny over China’s role in the WHO’s response to COVID-19. In 2020, she served as editor-in-chief of guidance on COVID-19 prevention and control for women in China.
If elected, Song would become the second Chinese national to lead the WHO, after Margaret Chan.
