Taiwan’s health and foreign ministers sharply protested its exclusion from the virtual 74th annual World Health Assembly (WHA) meeting, which begins on Monday in Geneva.
Foreign Minister Joseph Wu and Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung expressed “deep displeasure” over the country’s exclusion.
They expressed their dismay for the fact that Taipei was not invited to participate in the WHA as an observer despite widespread global support from the G7 and global health organizations.
China has been blocking Taiwan’s participation in global events since 2017, as Beijing considers the island democracy to be part of its territory.
Chen, who also leads Taiwan`s campaign to control Covid-19 as chief of the Central Epidemic Control Command (CECC), said the current coronavirus outbreak in Taiwan “shows that viruses know no borders.”
After successfully containing the pandemic for nearly a year and a half, Taiwan has been hit with a nationwide outbreak pushing the total number of infected to 4,917 and 29 fatalities as of Monday.
The two ministers also expressed gratitude for support from the international community for Taiwan`s participation in the annual meeting, ranging from the Group of Seven nations to the World Medical Association.
The two ministers said political interference by China caused the exclusion.
The two ministers said Beijing “falsely claims that appropriate arrangements have been made for Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Organization” and declared that only Taiwan`s elected government can represent its 23.5 million people.
Wu and Chen urged the WHO to “serve the health and welfare of all humanity and not capitulate to the political interests of a certain member.” (dpa/NAN)
