U.S.-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation says an advertisement it planned to run in a Chinese newspaper has been rejected.
According to AIDS Healthcare Foundation, China Daily newspaper rejected an advertisement that AHF wanted to run this week. Apparently, the ad targets China for its alleged misuse of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria, and the ad has the headline: "China, Pay Your Fair Share on Global AIDS!" AHF claims China has received nearly USD1 billion from the Global Fund, yet has contributed just USD16 million in the same period.
AHF's ad features a cartoon panda holding arms full of cash while seated on top of the world. The accompanying text outlines what China has donated to the Global Fund over the years versus what China has received from the Fund.
In an email supposedly sent to AHF last week, an advertising manager for China Daily informed AHF's media planner: "The content and picture in it are all not friendly. Sorry, we cannot publish it."
"We are deeply disappointed that China Daily rejected our advocacy advertisement on China's relationship with, and misuse of the Global Fund. Nevertheless, we will continue to spearhead other protests, actions and advocacy efforts to expose the imbalance in China's 'give and take' regarding the Global Fund," said Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.
