Taipei: The United States, along with key allies including Britain, Canada, Australia, Germany, and Japan, issued a unified call on Friday urging Taiwan’s participation in an upcoming crucial meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO) this month.
Taiwan’s exclusion from most international organizations stems from objections raised by China, which asserts authority over the democratically governed island.
Previously, Taiwan participated in the WHO’s World Health Assembly (WHA) as an observer from 2009 to 2016 under then-President Ma Ying-jeou’s administration. However, Beijing began obstructing Taiwan’s involvement in 2017 after the election of former President Tsai Ing-wen, citing her refusal to endorse China’s stance on the “One China” principle.
In a joint statement issued by the de facto embassies of the United States and other nations in Taipei, concerns were raised regarding Taiwan’s continued exclusion from the global health system. The statement emphasized that inviting Taiwan as an observer would align with the WHO’s commitment to inclusive international health cooperation, reflecting a “health for all” approach.
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The statement underscored that Taiwan’s absence from the WHA, the primary global health forum, is unwarranted and undermines global public health cooperation and security, which are essential in today’s world.
Despite lacking formal diplomatic ties with Taipei, the United States and its key allies have consistently advocated for Taiwan’s participation, much to Beijing’s displeasure.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office attributed Taiwan’s exclusion from the WHA to the ruling party’s alleged failure to establish a “political basis” for its attendance. Taiwan’s government, however, asserts that Beijing lacks the authority to represent the island on the international stage.
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Tensions between China and Taiwan have escalated further following the inauguration of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, whom China perceives as a “separatist.” In response, China conducted two days of war games near the island as a show of discontent against Lai’s inauguration speech.
The WHO has maintained that Taiwan’s participation is a matter for member states to determine.
