Lawmakers and medical experts from seven European countries have joined a group of their Taiwanese colleagues in calling for Taiwan’s inclusion in the World Health Assembly.
Taiwan has been excluded from the annual meeting of the WHO’s governing body for a fourth year due to Chinese pressure.
In total, 303 lawmakers and experts from France, the UK, Italy, Germany, Spain, Finland, Poland, and Taiwan signed a petition supporting Taiwan’s inclusion. The petition has been sent to WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, as well as to the WHO’s chef de cabinet and France’s ambassador to the UN.
The text of the petition notes Taiwan’s success in stopping COVID-19 without the use of shutdowns. It says that given the level of Taiwan’s medical research, its disease prevention expertise, and its medical system, excluding Taiwan is a mistake that will threaten both Taiwan and the world.