Taipei — For the 10th consecutive year, Taiwan has been excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA), the decision-making body of the World Health Organization, after Beijing blocked its participation, Taiwanese and international reports said.
The 79th WHA is due to meet in Geneva, but Taiwan’s foreign minister, Lin Chia-lung, said Taipei did not receive an invitation and blamed political pressure from China for the continued exclusion. Taiwan has long argued that being shut out of the WHA undermines global health cooperation, depriving the world of its public health expertise and experience in disease prevention.
The United States and the European Union reiterated support for Taiwan’s inclusion. A US State Department spokesperson said Taiwan’s knowledge and resources could make a significant contribution to tackling major global health challenges. The report also noted that the US formally withdrew from the WHO earlier this year, and cited former President Donald Trump’s repeated criticism of the organisation, including accusations that it mishandled the COVID-19 pandemic and was overly influenced by China.
The EU’s European External Action Service said Taiwan should be allowed to participate in international mechanisms where organisational rules permit. That statement followed a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson’s announcement that Beijing refused to approve Taiwan’s participation this year, invoking its “one China” principle.
Responding to Beijing’s position, the EEAS said China’s interpretation of the one-China principle is not universally accepted and is not formally adopted by the EU. The bloc reiterated that, while it recognises the People’s Republic of China as the legal government of China, it maintains close, cooperative ties with Taiwan across many sectors.
Observers say the dispute highlights a persistent tension between global health inclusivity and geopolitical disputes over Taiwan’s status. The Tribune notes this report was sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received.
