Taiwan Urges WHO to Allow Full Participation in Meetings

Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu has called on the World Health Organization (WHO) to allow Taiwan to attend all its meetings in order to achieve the goal of “Health for All”. Taiwan, excluded from most international organizations due to objections from China, is seeking to participate in the upcoming World Health Assembly (WHA).

Despite attending the WHA as an observer from 2009 to 2016, Taiwan’s participation was blocked by Beijing in 2017 after President Tsai Ing-wen took office. China’s Taiwan Affairs Office blamed Taiwan’s ruling party for the exclusion, citing a “lack of a political basis”.

Minister Wu emphasized the importance of Taiwan’s involvement in global health discussions, stating that Taiwan faces significant challenges in participating in this year’s WHA. However, he expressed optimism, noting increasing support for Taiwan’s bid to attend the summit.

The United States has also voiced support for Taiwan’s reinstatement at the WHA, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging the WHO to invite Taiwan. Taiwan, which has been allowed to attend some technical WHO meetings, argues that its exclusion hinders global efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

The WHA is set to begin on May 27, shortly after Taiwan’s president-elect Lai Ching-te assumes office. China has expressed disapproval of Lai, labeling him a “dangerous separatist” and rejecting his calls for dialogue.

As Taiwan continues to push for its participation in the WHA, the international community watches closely to see if the WHO will heed the calls for Taiwan’s inclusion in global health discussions.