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MOFA Minister Wu discusses Taiwan-US relations, WHA bid with Norwegian media

From Taiwan Today 2020-11-25
Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu gives a video interview to Kristoffer Ronneberg of Norwegian daily Aftenposten Nov. 19 at MOFA headquarters in Taipei City. (MOFA)

Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu gives a video interview to Kristoffer Ronneberg of Norwegian daily Aftenposten Nov. 19 at MOFA headquarters in Taipei City. (MOFA)

The government is confident the Taiwan-U.S. partnership will continue to grow from strength to strength regardless of any changes in White House leadership, Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu said Nov. 19.

While Taiwan has a close relationship with the Trump administration, it also maintains longstanding friendly relations with the U.S. Democratic Party and enjoys bipartisan support from both the executive and legislative branches in Washington, Wu said.

Wu made the remarks from Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Taipei City during a video interview with journalist Kristoffer Ronneberg of Norwegian daily Aftenposten.

According to Wu, the World Health Organization continues to ignore support from Taiwan’s allies and like-minded partners by preventing the country’s participation in its decision-making body—the World Health Assembly, which reconvened earlier this month.

This exclusion jeopardizes the right to health of Taiwan’s 23.5 million people and prevents the country from sharing its experiences and resources with other nations, Wu said, adding the decision runs counter to the WHO’s stated goal of Health For All.

With regard to escalating cross-strait tension, Wu said the government is determined to maintain its self-defense capability. Standing firm on the front line of democracy, Taiwan can succeed as David prevailed over Goliath, he added. (SFC-E)