US and allies call for Taiwan to attend WHO meeting

The US and its allies are calling for Taiwan to be allowed to attend the World Health Assembly (WHA) meeting held in late May - Photo: REUTERS

Taiwan is excluded from most international organizations due to China's objections, as Beijing considers Taiwan part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to unify it.

During the period 2009 - 2016, Taiwan participated in the World Health Assembly (WHA) of the World Health Organization (WHO) as an observer. This was considered a warm period in the relationship between Taiwan and mainland China.

However, Beijing began blocking Taiwan's participation in 2017 when Tsai Ing-wen - who opposes the "one China" policy - became the island's leader.

According to Reuters news agency on May 24, the offices of the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, Germany and Japan in Taipei issued a joint statement calling for Taiwan to be allowed to participate in the 77th session of the WHA, taking place from May 27 to June 1 in Geneva, Switzerland.

"At the 77th session of the WHA in Geneva this year, Taiwan remains largely excluded from the global international health system.

Inviting Taiwan to participate as an observer would be the best demonstration of WHO's commitment to a comprehensive, "health for all" approach to international health cooperation.

Taiwan's isolation from the top health forum WHA is unjustified and undermines the global public health cooperation and security that the world demands," the statement said.

The United States and many of its allies do not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, and their repeated calls for Taiwan to participate have angered Beijing.

This month, China's Taiwan Affairs Office said the island could not attend the WHA because it "lacks political basis".

But Taiwan says Beijing has no right to speak for or represent the island on the international stage.

Starting from May 23, China conducted the "Joint Sword 2024A" exercise in the waters surrounding almost the entire island of Taiwan and the islands controlled by Taipei.

The drills came just three days after Lai Ching-te took office as Taiwan's leader. Beijing has called Lai a "separatist" and opposes his rise to power.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/my-va-dong-minh-keu-goi-cho-dai-loan-du-hop-who-20240524101648089.htm