On May 20, 2025, at the 78th World Health Assembly held in Geneva, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) “Pandemic Treaty” was passed. The United States government refused to accept the agreement citing “sovereignty intervention” as the reason. In contrast, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) saw this as an opportunity to expand its influence through global health governance.
In July, the United States officially rejected the 2024 revision of the “International Health Regulations” by the WHO, citing the need to protect national sovereignty and prevent international bureaucrats from influencing US domestic policies. US officials expressed concerns that these amendments granted excessive power to the WHO, potentially interfering with national sovereignty in shaping health policies.
A Chinese expert from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences harshly criticized Washington’s rejection, describing it as reckless and potentially damaging to global health governance.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the CCP promoted its “zero-COVID” policy as a global model, claiming that its strict lockdowns, extensive surveillance, and social control measures were more effective in handling the situation compared to democratic nations. By carefully manipulating data and propaganda, Beijing portrayed its authoritarian system as more efficient than free societies.
This narrative helped legitimize the CCP’s political system and shaped the global health governance model promoted through the “Pandemic Treaty”. However, the CCP’s model has proven to be destructive. During the Omicron peak, cities like Shanghai in China experienced severe lockdowns leading to shortages of food and medical services, children being separated from parents, and even authorities euthanizing pets.
The authoritarian framework implemented domestically by the CCP has now become the basis for promoting the “Pandemic Treaty” internationally. By incorporating this governance style into multilateral agreements, the CCP seeks to expand its medical authoritarian model abroad under the guise of global cooperation.
US officials oppose the treaty partially because the WHO failed to hold China accountable for its early dissemination of the coronavirus, lack of transparency, and accountability mechanisms. At a deeper level, the refusal to acknowledge a global governance system that interferes with national sovereignty mimics China’s “epidemic authoritarian” model.
If the US were to accept the “Pandemic Treaty,” it would provide legitimacy to a multilateral framework that aligns with the CCP’s strategic vision, despite China claiming to represent the voices of “Global South” nations. In reality, its aim is to establish a group centered around the CCP regime and create a new international order.
CCP leader Xi Jinping has repeatedly called for China to lead global governance reform based on principles of fairness, justice, openness, and inclusivity. This rhetoric signifies a shift towards the multipolar world advocated by China, implying a global order dominated by China with reduced US influence. Concrete initiatives supporting this vision include the Belt and Road Initiative, Digital Silk Road, Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Health Silk Road.
Beijing’s strategic focus has shifted from regional to global expansion, aiming to dominate international institutions, erode Western alliances, and replace liberal norms with authoritarian norms. If the US were to accept the treaty, it would legalize a multilateral model led by the CCP, enhancing China’s geopolitical position without direct confrontation but through international institutions instead of warfare to replace American leadership.
The treaty also imposes legally binding international obligations to address pandemics, limiting US unilateral actions in public health crises and forcing the US to operate within a framework influenced by China.
During negotiations for the WHO’s “Pandemic Treaty,” the CCP was calculating to maximize benefits while minimizing responsibilities. This is evident in its systematic promotion of differentiated obligations. Despite being the world’s second-largest economy, China positions itself as a developing country to seek preferential treatment in technology transfer and financing. The CCP insists that global cooperation should adopt non-binding flexible terms instead of enforced mechanisms, require respect for national sovereignty when implementing measures, allow countries to raise objections, and demand WHO consent before conducting investigations.
Therefore, the CCP not only benefits politically but also gains substantial advantages from the treaty. It claims that the treaty aims to ensure fair distribution of medical resources and optimize pathogen information sharing, but in reality, it creates a framework that enables China to access global health resources and proprietary technology developed by other countries.
This allows the CCP to use expensive foreign R&D results to drive the development of domestic drugs, produce similar products for profit, or use so-called “donations” as diplomatic tools for regional alliances.
While the US wisely chose to reject signing the treaty, it is expected that most countries globally will follow suit, giving the CCP a growing foundation to establish an anti-US alliance.