Although Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA) is once again denied this year, Health Minister Chiu Tai-yuan (邱泰源) said he is optimistic that Taiwan would soon reach the goal with increased support from like-minded countries.
During a press interview with Rti in Geneva on Wednesday, Chiu said that more countries have become more vocal about their support for Taiwan’s participation in the WHA despite pressure from China. On Wednesday, Taiwan’s Health Ministry shared on Facebook a photo of a bilateral meeting held in Geneva titled Building Healthier Futures Together featuring Chiu and the U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra. Chiu said this was the first time the U.S. also agreed to publish photos of a bilateral meeting on WHA-related issues.
On May 24, the American Institute in Taiwan, the de facto U.S. embassy in Taiwan, along with several representative offices in Taiwan issued a joint press release voicing their support for Taiwan’s participation in the WHA as an observer. The press release reiterates that Taiwan’s participation would “best exemplify the WHO’s commitment to an inclusive, “health for all” approach to international health cooperation.”