US and China spar until closing moments of WHO assembly

Members endorse independent probe of pandemic response

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization attends the virtual 73rd World Health Assembly in Geneva on May 19. © Reuters

RINTARO HOSOKAWA and ANDREW SHARP, Nikkei staff writers

May 19, 2020 13:31 JST

Updated on May 20, 2020 07:01 JST

GENEVA/TOKYO -- As the World Health Organization's annual gathering of members concluded its two-day meeting on Tuesday, the U.S. and China traded barbs until the closing moments over the issue of Taiwan's attendance, symbolizing the heated battle between the world's two largest economies that overshadowed the assembly.