Health Minister Chen Shih-chung says that Taiwan must continue working to secure its right to participate in the World Health Assembly. Chen was speaking Friday during a press conference held by the Taiwan UN Alliance.
This year’s World Health Assembly is scheduled to begin on May 18. It will be held online due to COVID-19. Taiwan had previously taken part in the annual assembly as an observer, but in recent years, it has been blocked from participating due to Chinese pressure. Despite a groundswell of international support for Taiwan’s return this year, Taiwan has yet to receive an invitation.
Chen said that as Taiwan struggles for inclusion, the most important thing is for it to stand on the side of democracy, freedom, and human rights, and show the world the wrongs of authoritarianism.