Taiwan was barred from WHO annual session by China. Taiwan’s bid to attend the World Health Organization’s annual assembly failed on Monday, despite the island’s claims of rising support.
Taiwan was not invited to Geneva’s annual assembly from May 21-30. Eswatini and the Marshall Islands supported Taiwan’s membership, while China and Pakistan opposed it.
Taiwan is part of “one China” ruled by Beijing, according to China. Taiwan is barred from numerous international organizations due to China’s claim that it is not a nation.
Taiwan called the WHO decision “contemptible” and said Beijing had no authority to speak for the island.
“Only Taiwan’s democratically elected government can represent Taiwan’s 23 million people in the WHO and other international organizations and protect Taiwanese health and human rights,” its foreign ministry said.
The decision pleased China.
“This fully shows that the one-China principle is the aspiration of the people and the trend of the times in the international community and cannot be challenged in any way,” the Chinese foreign ministry said.
The ministry stated that before the conference, approximately 100 countries sent special letters to the WHO and declarations supporting the one-China principle and opposing Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Assembly.
“China also urges certain countries not to pretend to be confused, stop politicizing the health issue, stop interfering in China’s internal affairs under the pretext of the Taiwan issue, and stop the erroneous practice of using ‘Taiwan to control China’,” added the ministry.
Taiwan stated its exclusion from the WHO impeded COVID-19 pandemic efforts.
Taiwan says only its people can decide its future and rejects China’s sovereignty claims.
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