A group of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies is working to get a pro-Taiwan resolution included in the agenda of this year’s World Health Assembly. The World Health Assembly is the WHO’s decision-making body, and it is scheduled to convene virtually from May 24 to June 1.
Taiwan had attended the meeting of the WHO’s decision-making body for a number of years as an observer, but this is the fifth consecutive year that Taiwan is being excluded due to pressure from China.
The resolution backs reinstating Taiwan’s observer status. Taiwan’ allies are hoping to get the resolution included in the “supplementary items” section of the meeting’s agenda.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry says that international support for Taiwan’s return to the assembly has continued to reach new heights this year. The ministry thanked countries around the world for supporting Taiwan’s inclusion in the assembly through various means.
The foreign ministry is holding a series of public-health themed events to coincide with this year’s assembly session, all designed to send the message that when it comes to global health, “Taiwan Can Help”. This series of events has already started, with an international symposium on vaccine distribution taking place on Tuesday.