The Taiwanese government has criticized the World Health
Organization's (WHO) disregard for the health rights of Taiwanese people
and their participation in China on Monday after failing to be invited
to a decision-making body.
Taiwan has been excluded from many international organizations, such as the WHO because of Chinese opposition, which considers the island to be one of its provinces and not a country.
Taiwan, with strong support for major Western powers, has been calling for access to the World Health Assembly, which opens on Monday, as a spectator.
In a joint statement by Foreign Minister Joseph Wu and Health Minister Chen Shih-chung, the Taiwanese government said it would continue to seek participation.
"As an international health body, the World Health Organization (WHO) should work for the health and well-being of all people and not take into account the political aspirations of a particular member," Chen said, referring to China.
Wu expressed regret over the WHO Secretary-General's continued neglect of the health rights of 23.5 million Taiwanese people ”.
China says Taiwan can only participate if it acknowledges that it is part of 'one China', the Taipei government will not, and that only Beijing has the right to represent Taiwan at the international level and that Taiwan has been given whatever access it needs during the COVID-19 epidemic.
A statement from Taiwan said China had falsely claimed that appropriate arrangements had been made for WHO's participation in Taiwan, adding that only the democratically elected government on the island could speak for its people.
Taiwan urges the WHO to "maintain a state of professionalism and neutrality, refrain from political interference in China, and allow Taiwan to join WHO meetings, methods, and activities to protect human well-being and to fight disease collectively".
While the WHO is working with Taiwanese technology experts on COVID-19, it is up to the international community to decide whether to invite Taiwan to host the WHO meeting, WHO legal officer Steve Solomon said last week.
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