Allies thanked by MOFA for supporting Taiwan at WHA

2022/05/25

A proposal calling for Taiwan’s participation as an observer in the 75th World Health Assembly submitted by 13 of the country’s allies is deeply appreciated by the government and people, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs May 23.
 
Debated by representatives of Belize, Kingdom of Eswatini, St. Vincent and Grenadines and Tuvalu with counterparts from China, Cuba and Pakistan during two-on-two sessions held as part of the general committee and plenary sessions, the proposal was rejected on the grounds of the so-called one-China principle.
 
According to the MOFA, the four allies argued that Taiwan’s inclusion in the World Health Organization is essential to combating COVID-19, ensuring global health security and should not be politicized. China, Cuba and Pakistan countered with distortions of U.N. Resolution 2758 and WHA Resolution 25.1, the ministry said.
 
The resolutions do not give China the right to represent Taiwan in the U.N. system, the MOFA said, adding that only the democratically elected government can represent the country’s 23.5 million people on the international stage.
 
Strong backing from the global community underscores the legitimacy and urgency of Taiwan’s WHA participation, the ministry said. The government will continue seeking engagement with the WHO while ensuring the rights of the people to take part in related activities, mechanisms and meetings, the MOFA added.
 
WHA75, taking place May 22 to 28 in Geneva, is the first physical gathering of the annual decision-making body of the WHO since the onset of coronavirus. It involves delegations from all member states of the U.N. specialized agency. 


Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)