US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a statement published on Wednesday urged 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 solicit 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
KEY INDUSTRY: The vice premier discussed a plan to create a non-red drone supply chain by next year, which has been allocated a budget of more than NT$7.2 billion The government has budgeted NT$44.2 billion (US$1.38 billion) to cultivate Taiwan’s uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) industry over the next five years, which would make the nation a major player in the industry’s democratic supply chain in the Asia-Pacific region, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) said yesterday. Cho made the remarks during a visit to the facilities of Cub Elecparts Inc (為升電裝). Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chen Su-yueh (陳素月) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Hsieh Yi-fong (謝依鳳) also participated in the trip. Cub Elecparts has transitioned from the automotive industry to the defense industry, which is the top priority among the nation’s
SOUTH KOREA DISPUTE: If Seoul continues to ignore its request, Taiwan would change South Korea’s designation on its arrival cards, the foreign ministry said If South Korea does not reply appropriately to a request to correct Taiwan’s name on its e-Arrival card system before March 31, the government would take corresponding measures to change how South Korea is labeled on the online Taiwan Arrival Card system, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. South Korea’s e-Arrival card system lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan)” in the “point of departure” and “next destination” fields. Taipei has asked Seoul to change the wording. Since March 1, South Koreans who hold government-issued Alien Resident Certificates (ARC) have been identified as from “South Korea” rather than the “Republic of Korea,” the
SUFFICIENT: The president said Taiwan has enough oil for next month, with reserves covering more than 100 days and natural gas enough for 12 to 14 days A restart plan for the Guosheng Nuclear Power Plant in New Taipei City’s Wanli District (萬里) and the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung County’s Hengchun Township (恆春) would be submitted to the Nuclear Safety Commission by the end of the month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday, reversing the government’s policy to abolish nuclear energy. On May 17 last year, Taiwan shut down its last nuclear reactor and became the first non-nuclear nation in East Asia, fulfilling the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government’s pledge of a “nuclear-free homeland.” Even without nuclear power, Taiwan can maintain a stable electricity supply until 2032,
DEROGATORY: WTO host Cameroon’s designation of Taiwan as a ‘province of China’ seriously undermines the nation’s status and rights as a WTO member, MOFA said The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday condemned Cameroon for listing Taiwan as “Taiwan, Province of China” in visa documents for an upcoming WTO ministerial conference, a move that led to Taiwan’s withdrawal from the event. The designation “seriously undermined” Taiwan’s status and rights as a WTO member, the ministry said in a statement. It is the first time since 2001 that Taiwan has declined to attend a WTO Ministerial Conference. The conference is scheduled to take place from Thursday to Sunday next week in Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon. Taiwan had planned to send a delegation led by Minister Without Portfolio
RSS