The World Health Organization has sent Taiwan an invitation to this year’s meeting of the World Health Assembly (WHA). According to a Taiwanese official stationed in Switzerland, the World Health Organization sent the invitation on Friday.
This year’s WHA meeting will take place in Geneva beginning on May 23, three days after Taiwan’s presidential inauguration. The invitation ends speculation that China might prevent Taiwan from attending this year’s meeting because of displeasure over inauguration. President-elect Tsai Ing-wen and her Democratic Progressive Party are seen in Taiwan as being wary of Beijing.
Tsai has come under particular scrutiny for not formally acknowledging the 1992 Consensus, something Beijing sees as a prerequisite for cross-strait ties. Under the 1992 Consensus, Mainland China and Taiwan agree that both sides belong to One China, while allowing for different interpretations of what One China means.
On Friday, Presidential Office spokesman Charles Chen said the invitation shows the two sides continue to enjoy friendly ties built on the basis of the 1992 Consensus. Chen said the government welcomes the invitation, and will pass it on to representatives from the incoming administration.