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The United States and other Western allies have issued a joint statement calling for Taiwan to be included in an upcoming World Health Organization (WHO) meeting.
The United States, along with Britain, Canada, Australia, Germany, and Japan, urged Taiwan’s participation in the WHO’s World Health Assembly (WHA), highlighting that Taiwan has been excluded due to China’s objections. Historically, Taiwan was allowed observer status from 2009 to 2016, but this changed when Tsai Ing-wen, who rejected China’s “one China” principle, became president in 2017.
“As this year’s 77th session of the World Health Assembly commences in Geneva, Taiwan remains largely excluded from the world’s international health system,” the allies stated. They emphasized that including Taiwan as an observer would demonstrate the WHO’s commitment to global health cooperation. The statement further criticized Taiwan’s exclusion as undermining global public health security.
In response, Taiwan’s Health Minister Chiu Tai-yuan announced that a delegation would attend meetings in Geneva with supportive nations. Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung attributed the exclusion to China’s politicization of health issues, asserting Taiwan’s sovereignty and its right to participate in global health discussions.
Despite these calls, China’s foreign ministry reiterated that Taiwan’s government must accept the “one China” principle to participate in the WHA. Taiwan’s government, however, maintains that Beijing does not have the authority to represent Taiwan internationally.