Editor’s note for Tuesday, July 7, 2020

Dear Access member,

WHO withdrawal: The Trump administration has sent a formal letter “to the United Nations withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, a dramatic move that could reshape public health diplomacy,” reports the Washington Post.

Under the terms of a resolution passed by the U.S. Congress in 1948, Washington must give a year’s notice in writing and pay its debts to the agency in order to leave, so even this letter is not the final step. Also, the Washington Post notes, “It is not clear whether the president can pull the United States out of the organization and withdraw funding without Congress.”

Beijing will no doubt enjoy its new supremacy in yet another international organization. The result: an own goal for the U.S. that the Chinese government will use to maximum political and propaganda effect.

On another topic, check out the Black China specialists directory, compiled by Mark Akpaninyie:

The China field continues to exclude the participation from Black China specialists. Representation matters and Black under-representation in the China field is a problem. Black perspectives in the China field are intrinsically valuable. A comprehensive understanding of China will always be inadequate and riddled with blind spots if Black people are excluded from the conversation.

This directory aims to identify and amplify Black China specialists so that our voices can be heard…This public directory will enable more Black China specialists to more easily be invited and included on panels and conferences, contacted by the media, sought out for professional opportunities, and recognized for their insight.

Please feel free to complete this form and/or share this form with any Black China specialist. Reach out to Mark Akpaninyie at ubong.akpaninyie@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Our word of the day is “Five Ones” policy (“五个一”政策 “wǔ gè yī” zhèngcè), under which Beijing “allows mainland carriers to fly just one flight a week on one route to any country and foreign airlines to operate just one flight a week to China,” per Reuters. The policy has been in place since March 29 and was extended until at least October.

—Jeremy Goldkorn, Editor-in-Chief