The 77th World Health Assembly will be held in Geneva, on May 27–June 1 this year. The theme of this year is All for Health, Health for All. Regrettably, Taiwan remains the WHA’s missing link.
In analyzing global health politics, it is evident that the challenges are vast and complex. Overcoming them demands unified, unbiased efforts, transcending political or territorial divides.
Granting Taiwan observer status in WHA will not only serve the vulnerable with measurable impact for 23.9 million inhabitants but also provide the World Health Organization (WHO), which holds the WHA, with crucial data on global health issues.
Taiwan has sought to participate as an observer in forums such as the WHA, but China has argued that under UN Resolution 2758, Taiwan is part of China and cannot be a separate UN member.
However, the resolution did not preclude Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the UN system or in any other multilateral forum.
Speaking at a seminar held by the German Marshall Fund, US Deputy Assistant Secretary for China and Taiwan Mark Lambert called for support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the international community at a time when China is increasingly misusing Resolution 2758.
Acute health emergencies affect millions of people around the world each year and keeping the world safe and protecting the vulnerable are top priorities for the WHA. The WHO works with countries and partners to prepare for, prevent, detect and respond to disease outbreaks and other health emergencies.
Taiwan is a highly capable, engaged and responsible member of the global health community. Taiwan should leverage the international support it received during the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to mobilize strong opposition to and clarification of Resolution 2758 in Taiwan’s meaningful participation and observership at the WHA.
The Biden administration’s immediate priority is to strongly counter and clarify Resolution 2758, as Taiwan is a very capable health partner. The exclusion of Taiwan has raised concerns over the intersection of geopolitics and global health imperatives. Let Taiwan join the 77th session of the World Health Assembly.
Kent Wang is advisory commissioner for the Overseas Community Affairs Council, Republic of China (Taiwan) in the US.
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