The US will continue to push for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the WHO, a US government spokesperson said on Tuesday, even though Washington has taken steps to pull out of the world health body.
An unnamed US Department of State spokesperson told the Central News Agency that Taiwan is a “reliable and capable partner” around the world, “and its partnerships around the world, including those that advance global health security, provide significant and sustainable benefits to the citizens of those countries.”
“The United States will continue to advocate in support of Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations, including the WHO,” the spokesperson said.
Photo: CNA
The US did just that during a round of WHO Executive Board meetings in February, the spokesperson added.
“The United States was pleased to urge WHO member states to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in WHO, including as an observer at the World Health Assembly,” they said.
The spokesperson was referring to a statement by Jeffrey Hay, first secretary to the US’ Permanent Mission to the UN, during a meeting on Feb. 5 of the 156th WHO Executive Board.
The comments by the spokesperson were in response to a question on whether the US would continue to support Taiwan’s inclusion as an observer or participant during the World Health Assembly’s meeting from May 19 to 27 in Geneva, Switzerland.
The state department reiterated Washington’s support for Taiwan’s WHA participation, even though the US is set to officially withdraw from the WHO in January next year after the global health body received a formal letter of withdrawal from the US administration in January.
The Republic of China, Taiwan’s official name, left the WHO in 1972, and since then, Taiwan has been unable to attend the WHA even as an observer due to Chinese pressure, except from 2009 to 2016, when relations with China were warmer under the then-Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government and Beijing supported Taiwan’s participation.
Since 2017, Taiwan has worked closely every year with its diplomatic allies and friendly nations, including the US, Japan and the EU, to push its bid to participate in the WHA, yet without success.
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