The United States is urging the World Health Organization (WHO) to invite Taiwan to participate as an observer at its annual meeting in Geneva, stressing its importance to “the WHO’s commitment to an inclusive, ‘health for all’ approach to international health cooperation.”
“Taiwan’s distinct capabilities and approaches—including its significant public health expertise, democratic governance, and advanced technology—bring considerable value that would inform the WHA’s deliberations,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement on May 9.
WHA refers to World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the WHO, which will hold its annual meeting from May 21 to 30 on global public health priorities.
Blinken described Taiwan as a “reliable partner, a vibrant democracy, and a force for good in the world.” He said that the United States will keep calling for Taiwan’s return as an observer at the WHA and its “meaningful and robust participation throughout the UN system and in international fora.” Such support is in line with Washington’s one-China policy, he said.
The WHA has excluded Taiwan since 2017 under diplomatic pressure from Beijing to isolate the self-ruling island, which the Chinese Communist Party considers as part of Chinese territory and seeks to take over by force, if necessary.
Taiwanese groups in America have been pushing to bring awareness on the issue.
Daniel Hsu, a doctor with the North American Taiwanese Medical Association, on April 15 held up a mug with the words “WHC” to signify the loss that blocking Taiwan’s participation in the WHA brings to the WHO. The letter C, he explained, represents an incomplete O.
“The WHO shouldn’t have a health gap,” he said at a press conference.
Hsueh Jui-yuan, minister of health and welfare for Taiwan, said on April 26 that he will still lead a delegation to Geneva despite having received no invitation to the assembly.