Minister of Foreign Affairs Mark Chen (
China's passage of the "Anti-Secession" Law, which authorized Beijing to resort to "non-peaceful" means against Taiwan if it tries to move toward formal independence, brought Beijing criticism from the international community, the minister said in a press conference.
However, by hosting Lien and People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (
Lien's trip to China "caused many problems" for Taiwan's diplomacy, the minister added.
Chen said that as Taipei readies its ninth bid to join the WHA, the highest governing body of the World Health Organization (WHO), Beijing is exercising its diplomatic influence to force Taiwan to enter the health body as part of China.
Speculation that Beijing is negotiating with the WHO Secretariat to include Taiwan in the WHA as part of China worries the minister, who stressed that Taiwan cannot join the WHO at the cost of damaging its sovereign national status.
Media reports have said that China is preparing to show its "goodwill" to Taiwan in the WHA by welcoming Taipei's participation in the assembly as an observer under the name "Taiwan, China."
"We will never accept the proposal," Chen said. "And we need to let our people know in advance why we cannot accept the proposal."
Taiwan's continual efforts to enter the WHO over the years have touched many countries, Chen said.
"We believe there is greater room for progress in our bid this year, though there might still be a long road to go before we actually join the WHO," he said.
Last year, the WHA held a vote to decide whether to include Taiwan's bid on its agenda. Among the 25 "yes" votes, 23 were cast by the nation's diplomatic allies and the US and Japan cast the other two.
The US and Japan's support for Taiwan may encourage other countries to follow their lead, Chen said.
Assessing the international support for Taiwan's WHO bid, Chen said that if the WHA calls a vote on Taiwan's application to become an observer this year, the yes votes "will increase significantly."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet decided whether to mobilize a vote in the assembly this year, Chen said.
"But we are sure that if we decide to do so, the result will be better than last year's," he said.
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Michael Kau (高英茂), who is currently in Europe lobbying for Taiwan's bid, will attend the WHA in Geneva from May 16 to 25, Chen said.
SPACE VETERAN: Kjell N. Lindgren, who helps lead NASA’s human spaceflight missions, has been on two expeditions on the ISS and has spent 311 days in space Taiwan-born US astronaut Kjell N. Lindgren is to visit Taiwan to promote technological partnerships through one of the programs organized by the US for its 250th national anniversary. Lindgren would be in Taiwan from Tuesday to Saturday next week as part of the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ US Speaker Program, organized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said in a statement yesterday. Lindgren plans to engage with key leaders across the nation “to advance cutting-edge technological partnerships and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers,”
UNREASONABLE SURVEILLANCE: A camera targeted on an road by a neighbor captured a man’s habitual unsignaled turn into home, netting him dozens of tickets The Taichung High Administrative Court has canceled all 45 tickets given to a man for failing to use a turn signal while driving, as it considered long-term surveillance of his privacy more problematic than the traffic violations. The man, surnamed Tseng (曾), lives in Changhua County and was reported 45 times within a month for failing to signal while driving when he turned into the alley where his residence is. The reports were filed by his neighbor, who set up security cameras that constantly monitored not only the alley but also the door and yard of Tseng’s house. The surveillance occurred from July
A Japan Self-Defense Forces vessel entered the Taiwan Strait yesterday, Japanese media reported. After passing through the Taiwan Strait, the Ikazuchi was to proceed to the South China Sea to take part in a joint military exercise with the US and the Philippines, the reports said. Japan Self-Defense Force vessels were first reported to have passed through the strait in September, 2024, with two further transits taking place in February and June last year, the Asahi Shimbun reported. Yesterday’s transit also marked the first time since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took office that a Japanese warship has been sent through the Taiwan
‘SAME OLD TRICK’: Even if Beijing resumes individual travel to Taiwan, it would only benefit Chinese tourism companies, the Economic Democracy Union convener said China’s 10 new “incentives” are “sugar-coated poison,” an official said yesterday, adding that Taiwanese businesses see them clearly for what they are, but that Beijing would inevitably find some local collaborators to try to drums up support. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, made the remark ahead of a news conference the General Chamber of Commerce is to hold today. The event, titled “Industry Perspectives on China’s Recent Pro-Taiwan Policies,” is expected to include representatives from industry associations — such as those in travel, hotels, food and agriculture — to request the government cooperate with China’s new measures, people familiar with
RSS