The health ministry says that the ongoing dispute over Taiwanese nationals being held in China is unlikely to delay Taiwan’s invitation to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA).
Diplomats speculate that the dispute, involving Taiwanese nationals forcibly sent from Kenya to China, could slow the arrival of this year’s invitation. They say that’s because the invitation Taiwan receives each year to attend the assembly as an observer is dependent on attitudes in Beijing.
But health ministry spokesperson Wang Che-chao said Thursday that Taiwan receives its invitation to the WHA around a month before the assembly is held. Wang said that means that Taiwan can expect to receive an invitation to this year’s WHA around April 23.
The health ministry says that the dispute with China is a judicial matter. The ministry says it has received no notice that the dispute could impact Taiwan’s participation, and that it is continuing preparations for the assembly in May.