Taiwan seeks inclusion in WHO WHA

The Taiwanese government urged the World Health Organization (WHO) to pay attention to the voices of the 23 million inhabitants in Taiwan who want to join this special agency of the United Nations (UN) and assist its decision-making body, the World Health Assembly (WHA) .
During a joint press conference held on May 24 in Taipei City, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung and Minister of Health and Welfare Chiu Tai-yuan made the request just before after the World Health Assembly convened its 77th session from May 27 to June 1 in Geneva.

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According to Lin, Taiwan has not received an invitation to attend the event solely as a result of pressure from China. The government’s bid to be included has continued to draw support from around the world, the official said, adding that the nation’s 11 diplomatic allies have already sent a letter to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and demanded that his proposal for supporting Taiwan’s observer status in the WHA is on this year’s agenda.

Friendly and partner countries of the Asian nation have also expressed similar positions according to Lin. These include the release of statements following this year’s G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations, as well as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s statements over four years in a row.

At the same time, the executive and legislative branches of nearly 70 countries and the European Union, including Japan, the United Kingdom and France, have requested Taiwan’s inclusion in the WHA through different approaches on various platforms. The minister added that the Taiwanese government and people sincerely appreciate this support.

Lin stressed that Taiwan is willing and able to contribute to the global health network, citing as examples the nation’s provision of humanitarian assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic; aid in the face of wars and natural disasters in Ukraine and Syria; as well as its world-leading public health and national health insurance achievements. All of this is testimony that Taiwan is a force for good and a responsible player in the global community, the minister added.