WHO SAGA:
Excluding Taiwan undermines global public health cooperation and security, which the world demands, the US’ top diplomatic official said
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By Liu Tzu-hsuan / Staff reporter
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a statement published on Wednesday invited the WHO to invite Taiwan to participate in the upcoming World Health Assembly (WHA) as an observer.
The US “strongly encourages the WHO to reinstate an invitation to Taiwan to participate as an observer at this year’s WHA so the world may once again benefit from Taiwan’s expertise and experience,” the statement said.
The WHA, themed “All for Health, Health for All,” is to take place from May 27 to June 1 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Photo: AFP
Taiwan has not been invited to the WHA since 2017, as China has become more aggressive in opposing the nation’s participation in international forums after President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) took office in May 2016.
“Inviting Taiwan to observe the WHA is a critically important step toward affirming the WHO’s goal of ‘Health for All,’” Blinken said.
With “exceptional capabilities and approaches,” Taiwan has repeatedly demonstrated “a capability and willingness to help address global health crises and support the global health community,” he said.
Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times
Excluding Taiwan from the WHA “undermines inclusive global public health cooperation and security, which the world demands — and urgently needs,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Foundation of Medical Professionals Alliance in Taiwan yesterday called on the nation’s diplomatic allies to support its involvement in the WHO pandemic agreement.
WHO member states are to discuss the world’s first pandemic agreement during the WHA.
The agreement includes mechanisms such as transfers of technology and know-how, access and benefit sharing, and a global supply chain and logistics network to facilitate information sharing and provide technological support during global pandemics.
Taiwan should strive for the opportunity to be a contracting party to the agreement, foundation executive director Lin Shih-chia (林世嘉) told a forum in Taipei.
The nation can request support from its allies to negotiate on allowing all countries, economies and health entities to join the agreement, Lin said.
If Taiwan cannot take part in the agreement, it should still hope to take part in the meetings and the contracting parties’ technical mechanisms as an observer, she said.
The revised draft of the agreement, which was released in March, states that the document “shall be open for signature by all states and by regional economic integration organizations.”
Taiwan should seek to participate as a member of regional organizations, National Taiwan University College of Public Health professor Tony Chen (陳秀熙) said.
Separately, the Oklahoma Legislature and the Illinois House of Representatives this week passed resolutions to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations.
The Oklahoma Senate introduced a concurrent resolution, which was adopted by both of its chambers on Wednesday, to encourage “further economic ties and friendship between the state of Oklahoma and Taiwan.”
The state supports Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations, including the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Criminal Police Organization and many others, the bill says.
Oklahoma and the rest of the US “have benefited immeasurably through decades of unwavering friendship with Taiwan, and the wider world is sure to reap tremendous rewards as Taiwan works to enhance its presence in the international community,” it says.
Illinois Representative William Davis, cochair of the state’s Taiwan Friendship Caucus, proposed a resolution to reaffirm the state’s commitment to boosting ties with Taiwan.
The Illinois bill also voices support for the nation’s meaningful participation in international organizations, as well as “Taiwan’s aspiration to make more contributions in international societies.”
Adopting a policy of “steadfast diplomacy,” Taiwan “is capable of fulfilling, and willing to fulfill, its responsibilities and to collaborate with the world to deal with the challenges of humanitarian aid, disease control, and so forth,” it says.
The bill was adopted by the Illinois House on Tuesday.
Additional reporting by CNA
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