Taipei — May 23, 2023. A total of seven countries voted in favor of admitting Taiwan to the organization on the second day of the World Health Organization (WHO) annual meeting in Geneva on Monday.
According to Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), government officials from the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia, the Czech Republic, France and Canada supported Taiwan in their speeches at the World Health Assembly (WHA).
Although they do not have diplomatic relations with Taipei, all seven have publicly recognized that Taiwan is a model of global public health that deserves to be included in WHO meetings and mechanisms and invited to participate. AMS as an observer, according to the State Department.
For example, Akiko Honda, Deputy Minister of Health of Japan, said that when tackling global health issues, it is important to look to good examples that have succeeded in public health, such as Taiwan, and to avoid creating a geographical vacuum. [in Bezug auf die Pandemieprävention] arises when leaving a certain region”.
Carolyn Bennett, Canada’s Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Deputy Minister of Health, said Ottawa supports “efforts to update the International Health Regulations and develop an international pandemic tool.”
“It also means that building a global health community in which all are included and meaningfully participate is vital – which is why Canada is calling for Taiwan to be included as an observer at the World Health Assembly. health,” she added.
US Health Secretary Xavier Becerra said the world faces common health issues that require common solutions.
“The United States continues to strongly support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the World Health Assembly and in the work of the WHO more broadly,” he added.
On Monday, WHA members rejected a proposal by Taiwan’s diplomatic allies, including Belize, Nauru, Eswatini and the Marshall Islands, to put Taiwan’s observer status on the WHA’s agenda.
The reason for the refusal was objections from the People’s Republic of China (PRC), which considers Taiwan to be part of its territory.
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