President Tsai Ing-wen has invited WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to Taiwan. That’s after Tedros accused Taiwan of being behind racially-charged online attacks against him.
In a Facebook post Thursday, Tsai issued a strong protest against the accusation. She wrote that Taiwan has always opposed discrimination in any form. She also wrote that Taiwan has been excluded from international organizations for years, and so understands what it is to face discrimination.
She invited Tedros to come experience firsthand Taiwan’s commitment to engage with the world and better it, despite the discrimination and isolation it faces.
Tsai wrote about the work Taiwan does for global health without regard for skin color or language. She also wrote that despite its exclusion from the WHO, Taiwan has done its part during the COVID-19 pandemic, donating masks and medical supplies to hard-hit countries.
The president wrote: “We do not condone the use of racist remarks to attack those with different opinions. If Director-General Tedros could withstand pressure from China and come to Taiwan to see Taiwan’s efforts to fight COVID-19 for himself, he would be able to see that the Taiwanese people are the true victims of unfair treatment.” She concluded her post by saying she believes the WHO will only be complete if it includes Taiwan.