Chief of UN intellectual property agency wins re-election as UN faces financial turmoil
Daren Tang secured victory despite questions over his leadership and a whistle-blower letter, as US and China stayed largely on sidelines
As Washington withdraws from United Nations agencies and other member nations cut their funding, pushing the organisation into a severe financial crisis, the head of one well-funded agency won re-election on Thursday, despite criticism over some of his policies.
The vote of 83 eligible member states saw incumbent Daren Tang Heng Shim, a Singaporean national, re-elected to the World Intellectual Property Organisation, or Wipo, by a vote of 81 to 2 against Haitian national Johanny Stanley Joseph.
“Well done for flying the Singapore flag high!” then-Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong effused at the time.
This time around, however, the UN’s two largest contributors appeared satisfied, distracted or uninterested, seemingly happy to embrace the status quo.
“I think the Chinese are probably happy with the current one,” said someone close to Wipo who asked not to be identified given fear of retribution, while Washington “has lost interest”.