The statements of health ministers from allies Belize (top left), St. Vincent and the Grenadines (top right), St. Lucia (bottom left) and the Marshall Islands (bottom right) calling for Taiwan’s inclusion at the WHA are sincerely welcomed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (MOFA)

The government is deeply dissatisfied with the World Health Organization’s decision not to invite Taiwan to attend the 77th World Health Assembly underway in Geneva, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said May 28.

According to the MOFA, 11 of the country’s allies submitted a proposal on the opening day of the WHA calling for Taiwan’s participation as an observer. The health ministers of Belize, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, and the Marshall Islands engaged in debates with China, Cuba and Pakistan to argue the case, but the WHO declined to include the proposal on the agenda, the ministry said.

The ministers stressed that Taiwan’s WHA participation is both crucial and imperative given its expertise and resources, which have the capacity to significantly enhance the global health system; make the world healthier, more resilient and more equitable; and help achieve the goal of “All for Health, Health for All.”

China deliberately misinterprets U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758 and WHA Resolution 25.1 to promote its one China principle, the MOFA said, but the two resolutions do not recognize that Taiwan is part of China, nor do they authorize China to represent Taiwan in the U.N. system. Beijing’s views are not the global consensus, the ministry emphasized.

The ROC (Taiwan) and China are not subordinate to each other, and only Taiwan’s democratically elected government can protect its people’s right to health and represent them in the U.N. and other global organizations, the MOFA said. It added that China has no right to interfere with or limit Taiwan’s global engagement.

The MOFA also thanked Australia, France, Germany, the Netherlands, the EU and the U.K. for speaking up for Taiwan during the general assembly on the opening day. The government will continue to work with like-minded partners to promote global health, the ministry said, urging the WHO to grant Taiwan observer status at the WHA, as well as access to all of its activities, mechanisms and meetings. (SFC-E)