The WHO’s annual World Health Assembly has kicked off in Geneva, with members participating for the first time via videoconference. However, for the fourth year in a row, Taiwan does not have a seat at the table.
The Presidential Office issued a condemnation on Monday (Taipei time) as the meeting was about to commence. Presidential Office Spokesperson Alex Huang said that the WHO leadership has refused to invite Taiwan to its annual meeting due to pressure from Beijing. He said that the WHO’s decision to disregard the health rights of the 23 million people of Taiwan was deeply regrettable. Huang said that it violates the WHO’s spirit of “health without borders”.
Huang said that Taiwan’s efforts in fighting coronavirus are proof of the need for Taiwan to participate in the international health system. The Presidential Office urged the WHO leadership to return to the organization’s founding mission and to reject intervention from Beijing in order to allow Taiwan to participate.
“UN Resolution 2758 and WHA Resolution 25.1, do not involve Taiwan at all," said Huang. "They do not give the People’s Republic of China the right to represent Taiwan. Taiwan is a democratic country, and only the democratically elected government of Taiwan has the right to represent the Taiwanese people in participating in international organizations. I think that’s an ironclad fact.”
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Joseph Wu was at the Central Epidemic Command Center press conference on Monday afternoon to explain Taiwan’s bid to participate in the WHA. He said that many countries had offered vocal support.
"The governments of 29 countries have used a variety of ways to show their support for Taiwan’s participation in the WHO," said Wu. "In addition to a joint proposal by our allies, a lot of leaders from like-minded nations have also spoken on our behalf, including Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister and foreign minister Winston Peters. These were all meaningful firsts.”
Wu said that like-minded nations have suggested waiting to discuss Taiwan’s participation until the WHO convenes in person in the fall. That’s in light of a shortened WHA this year, which will largely focus on the coronavirus pandemic.