U.S. reserves right to withdraw from WHO if it fulfills financial obligations: WHO spokesman

The United States has reserved its right to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO), but any withdrawal can only take place if it first fulfills its financial obligations for the current fiscal year, a WHO spokesman said Friday.

Christian Lindmeier, the spokesman, made the remarks in response to a media query as the United States is set to formally withdraw from the WHO in January.

"When it joined WHO, the United States of America reserved its right to withdraw from the organization on a one-year notice, provided, however, that the financial obligations of the United States to the organization shall be met in full for the organization's current fiscal year," said the spokesman.

Lindmeier said the United States had currently not paid its invoiced amounts for assessed contributions for 2024 to 2025. According to the WHO, the U.S. owes the organization 260.6 million U.S. dollars in dues for 2024 and 2025.

On Jan 20, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order shortly after his inauguration to withdraw the country from the WHO, which will only take effect after a one-year notice period.

U.S. reserves right to withdraw from WHO if it fulfills financial obligations: WHO spokesman

U.S. reserves right to withdraw from WHO if it fulfills financial obligations: WHO spokesman

U.S. reserves right to withdraw from WHO if it fulfills financial obligations: WHO spokesman

Over 80,000 foreign travelers have entered south China's Hainan Province visa-free since the launch of the island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), an increase of 64 percent year on year, according to official data.

Since the special customs operations began on Dec 18, 2025, ports across the province have maintained stable operation, with the number of foreign travelers continuously growing.

Data from the Haikou General Station of Immigration Inspection showed that from Dec 18, 2025 to Friday, ports across Hainan inspected 180,000 foreign nationals entering and exiting the country, an increase of 46.5 percent year on year, accounting for 58.6 percent of the total number of inbound and outbound travelers during the same period.

A total of 80,000 foreign travelers entered under visa-free policies, accounting for 94.2 percent of the total number of foreign tourists entering the country during the period.

Most of the foreign travelers came to China for tourism, who were mainly from Russia, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Kazakhstan, and Singapore.

Hainan sees sharp increase in foreign travelers entering visa-free