The nation’s bid to be part of the World Health Assembly (WHA) is both necessary and “pragmatic,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said yesterday after the head of China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) reportedly told a group of Japanese visitors on Monday that China would never accept Taiwan becoming part of the health body.
Department of International Organizations head Lin Yong-le (林永樂) said the nation’s request for WHA observer status was “most appropriate because the health rights of the 23 million people of Taiwan must be safeguarded.”
“Applying for WHA observer status is the most pragmatic approach because Taiwan is not seeking full membership in the World Health Organization,” Lin said, stressing the importance of increasing participation by Taiwanese medical experts at WHO technical activities.
Taiwan’s membership at the WHO was revoked in 1979. Since 1997, Taiwan has been trying to re-enter the organization by applying for observer status at the WHA, the supreme decision-making body of the WHO.
Taiwan also applied for full WHO membership last year, drawing strong objections from the US and the EU.
All attempts have been blocked by Beijing.
Lin also said the nation must participate directly in the implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR), a global disease prevention system set up by the WHO to collect and communicate immediate and first-hand information on disease outbreaks.
Lin said that under the “universal application” clause of the IHR, Taiwan could not be excluded.
Hong Kong’s Wen Wei Po newspaper reported that TAO Chairman Wang Yi (王毅) said that although China would continue to block Taiwan’s applications to the WHO, it would look into setting up an international network that would be a “new framework” independent of the WHO to include Taiwan in information on disease outbreaks.
“The IHR framework should not be replaced by another network,” Lin said yesterday, adding that he did not know what Wang was talking about.
TAO Spokeswoman Fang Liqing (范麗青) said yesterday she could not verify what Wang meant.
However, as cross-strait talks have resumed, “all these problems can be discussed and resolved,” she said.
Hong Kong singer Eason Chan’s (陳奕迅) concerts in Kaohsiung this weekend have been postponed after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 this morning, the organizer said today. Chan’s “FEAR and DREAMS” concert which was scheduled to be held in the coming three days at the Kaohsiung Arena would be rescheduled to May 29, 30 and 31, while the three shows scheduled over the next weekend, from May 23 to 25, would be held as usual, Universal Music said in a statement. Ticket holders can apply for a full refund or attend the postponed concerts with the same seating, the organizer said. Refund arrangements would
Taiwanese indie band Sunset Rollercoaster and South Korean outfit Hyukoh collectively received the most nominations at this year’s Golden Melody Awards, earning a total of seven nods from the jury on Wednesday. The bands collaborated on their 2024 album AAA, which received nominations for best band, best album producer, best album design and best vocal album recording. “Young Man,” a single from the album, earned nominations for song of the year and best music video, while another track, “Antenna,” also received a best music video nomination. Late Hong Kong-American singer Khalil Fong (方大同) was named the jury award winner for his 2024 album
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) on Friday laid out the Cabinet’s updated policy agenda and recapped the government’s achievements ahead of the one-year anniversary of President William Lai’s (賴清德) inauguration. Cho said the government had made progress across a range of areas, including rebuilding Hualien, cracking down on fraud, improving pedestrian safety and promoting economic growth. “I hope the public will not have the impression that the Cabinet only asked the legislature to reconsider a bunch of legal amendments,” Cho said, calling the moves “necessary” to protect constitutional governance and the public’s interest. The Cabinet would work toward achieving its “1+7” plan, he said. The
RSS