MOFA thanks allies, partner countries for voicing support at WHA

2017/05/24

The efforts of Republic of China (Taiwan) diplomatic allies and partner countries in voicing support for the nation’s inclusion as an observer in the World Health Assembly are gratefully appreciated and reflect the staunch backing for Taiwan’s professional and pragmatic participation in the body, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs May 22.

A proposal submitted by 11 ROC allies urging the World Health Organization to invite Taiwan to participate as an observer was not included in the agenda for the assembly after being rejected in debates at the WHA General Committee and WHA plenary session. The 70th WHA—the decision-making body of the WHO—is meeting May 22-31 in Geneva.

At the General Committee, ROC allies Swaziland and Solomon Islands spoke in support of the proposal while mainland China and Cuba were opposed. During the plenary session, ROC allies Palau and St. Vincent and the Grenadines emphasized the need for Taiwan to attend the WHA as an observer, with mainland China and Cuba again voicing opposition.

Representatives of ROC allies stressed that the WHO should allow Taiwan’s participation in the WHA and related mechanisms and activities as human health and well-being must not be sacrificed due to political reasons. Similar arguments were stated by representatives of partner nations.

At a WHA plenary meeting, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price stressed dissatisfaction with Taiwan’s exclusion, noting that outbreaks of disease do not respect borders. “We must express the United States’ disappointment that, contrary to the custom of the past eight years, an invitation was not extended to Taiwan to observe this year’s assembly,” he said.

According to the MOFA, Taiwan’s absence from the WHA contravenes the organization’s founding principles and undermines global endeavors in protecting human health. The statements by representatives of ROC allies and partner nations highlight the unreasonableness of the WHO’s decision, the ministry added.

The MOFA also expressed extreme disappointment that Taiwan journalists have been barred from the assembly and called on the WHO to respect the freedom of the press. The WHO has buckled under political pressure and committed a serious violation of a universal human right in failing to protect freedom of speech, the ministry stated.

Taiwan was invited in 2009 by the WHO to take part as an observer in the annual WHA following 38 years of exclusion. The country has since shared its extensive experience in a range of areas like providing universal health care coverage and managing outbreaks of highly contagious diseases. This involvement is widely recognized as helping strengthen global disease prevention and safeguard the health of Taiwan’s 23 million people.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=2&post=115755)