The foreign ministry has rejected a statement from the WHO which says that the organization has long held exchanges with Taiwanese health officials.
On Wednesday, the head of the foreign ministry’s Department of International Organizations, Bob L.J. Chen, said that the serious way the WHO is regarding the fact of Taiwan’s existence is good. However, he said that Chinese pressure means that Taiwan’s actual ability to take part in the WHO is limited.
Chen said this not only leaves Taiwan unable to get timely first-hand information on epidemics, but also makes it difficult for Taiwan to share the successes of its model for fighting disease.
Chen said that the WHO remains unable to maintain the principles of professionalism and neutrality or to allow Taiwan full and free participation in the face of Chinese political pressure. Chen also said that the WHO has treated Taiwan as a part of China, placing it within the Chinese outbreak zone. Chen said this treatment is far from allowing Taiwan full participation in WHO meetings, mechanisms, and events.
Chen said that Taiwan has been unable to attend the WHO’s decision-making body, the WHA, since 2017. He also said 70% of Taiwan’s requests to attend WHO technical meetings have been rejected over the past decade.
Chen said that while Taiwan falls under the purview of the WHO’s Western Pacific Regional Office, it has never received any information from this office. In addition, Chen said that while Taiwan has been included in implementing the WHO’s International Health Regulations, Taiwanese experts are rarely invited to meetings on the regulations.
Finally, Chen said that Taiwan remains unable to register its vaccines, harming not only the Taiwanese people’s human right to help, but hindering Taiwan from providing its vaccines to any country that needs them.
Chen said that Taiwan’s robust healthcare system and successful experience fighting disease make it an indispensable partner for achieving the WHO’s mission of “Health for All”. Chen called on the WHO to invite Taiwan to this year’s WHA meeting and include it fully in all of its meetings, mechanisms, and events.