The Conversation: As the U.S. stops funding reproductive health services, China should step in
Tamara Nair, research fellow in non-traditional security studies at the Nanyang Technological University’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS)

“On April 4, 2017, U.S. President Donald Trump decided to not fund the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in [2017] because of the body’s alleged support for coercive abortions and forced sterilization in China. … This is a human rights issue and can have great impact on global health security and women’s health. … Within this context we need like-minded countries to address this shortfall of US$32.5 million for the UNFPA in the upcoming budget year. On January 23, Donald Trump signed an executive order reinstating the ‘global gag rule’ … It prompted countries … to pledge financial assistance to make up for the shortfall [in global family planning/reproductive health funding]. … Unfortunately, the crisis is too large and the resources too few to have the gap easily filled, especially in light of the recent cuts to UNFPA funds. But this might be an opportunity for China to help address the global shortage, especially in regions it has close historical and contemporary ties. Despite continuing human rights problems both domestically and internationally, China has been trying to step up as a responsible global citizen…” (4/19).