Health Minister Lin Tzou-yien has announced that he has delivered a letter of protest to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Lin is in Geneva heading Taiwan’s delegation to the ongoing World Health Assembly (WHA). The forum is the annual meeting of representatives from WHO member countries. Taiwan is not a WHO member, but has been included in the forum as an observer since 2009.
Lin’s announcement came on Wednesday, but he says that he delivered the letter Monday. Lin said the letter includes a protest against references to the ‘one China principle’ that were included in the invitation to this year’s forum.
The invitation refers to the ‘one China principle’ as the basis of Taiwan’s observer status at the forum. No previous invitation has contained similar language. The reference was likely included in this year’s invitation because of the election of Tsai Ing-wen, who is seen as wary of Beijing.
The letter of protest says that Taiwan’s participation in the WHA has nothing to do with politics or the ‘one China principle’. The letter also says that Taiwan contributes to the forum through its attendance.
Lin says he handed the letter to a WHO legal counsel, asking the counsel to deliver the letter to WHO Director-General Margaret Chan.
Reporters questioned Lin Wednesday about the absence of any meeting with the Chinese delegation at this year’s WHA. Health authorities from both sides of the Taiwan Strait have met on the sidelines of the forum regularly since Taiwan first attended. But the head of the Chinese delegation reportedly left the forum on Wednesday, ending any chance of a meeting this year.
Lin said that he does not know why no meeting took place this year. He also said that the meetings have not taken place every year, referring to the period between 2010 and 2012, when the two sides did not meet. Lin also said that Taiwan’s delegation has held close to 50 successful meetings with other delegations at this year’s WHA.