Taiwan blames China for WHO invite snub

Taiwan pushes for inclusion in global health summit
Taiwan activists urge China not to politicize UN health meeting
Author

15 May, 2017

Taiwan authorities should accept the 1992 Consensus which embodies the One-China principle to break the current cross- Strait communication deadlock, said China's Spokesperson for Taiwan Affairs An Fengshan.

Online registration for the 10-day event closes Monday.

For the first time in eight years Taiwan has not been invited to attend the World Health Assembly (WHA), the WHO's decision-making body.

"Since self-limitation cannot guarantee uninterrupted participation in the WHA, Taiwan should instead use the name "Taiwan" to join global organizations, so the nation can treat itself normally and stop repressing itself", the NPP lawmaker said.

Beijing's unilateral action has defeated the objective of the organization, while the rights and interests of Taiwan's 23 million people have been slighted by such action, the statement said.

The One China policy states that there is only one Chinese government and that the island of Taiwan is a breakaway province that belongs to China.

Asked why it was the Palestinian territories were invited as an observer while Taiwan's invitation was dependent on China, Lindmeier said, "To my understanding the "one China" policy is a United Nations -wide accepted policy; Beijing is representing the one China". Taiwan has observed the assembly, where 192 countries discuss policy and a budget, every year since 2009 as the two sides built trust through dialogue.

Recent relationships between the mainland and the island have worsened since Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen took office past year. Beijing has never renounced the use of force to reunite with the island, which had come under the control of the Nationalist Party following their defeat in 1949 at the hands of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

World Health Organization spokesman Christian Lindmeier confirmed to reporters in Geneva Tuesday that the registration deadline for the assembly has now passed but said he believed discussions over Taiwan were continuing.

It accused Tsai of "seeking to hijack public health in Taiwan to serve her political end of winning de facto statehood recognition for the island".

The Chinese government said on Friday that the health of people in Taiwan is not being put at risk by Taiwan's inability to attend a United Nations health meeting this year as there is no barrier to technical or medical exchanges and aid.

This kind of "self-suppression" does not guarantee Taiwan's inclusion in the WHA this year, Lim said.

"We feel Taiwan's participation in the WHO in some form is desirable in order to strengthen [the world's] response to dangers to public health", Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a regular press briefing in Tokyo, according to the South China Morning Post.


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