News release by Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Brunei Darussalam
Date: 15 May 2021
Taiwan should be included as part of international efforts of promoting global public health and epidemic prevention and control under the World Health Organization (WHO)
The 74th World Health Assembly (WHA 74) will be held from May 24 to June 1 this year, against the backdrop of the unprecedented years of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a stakeholder and responsible member of the international community, over the past years Taiwan has been in pursuit of its participation in all the meetings, mechanisms and activities under the World Health Organization (WHO) with the aim of promoting global public health and medical care, and joining the concerted effort in disease prevention and control.
Given the facts that with nearly 161 million confirmed cases and 3.34 million deaths globally as of 14 May 2021, indicating that no one can tackle the COVID-19 epidemic alone. Only through joint efforts and complete international cooperation can ensure the global village to successfully combat the pandemic. For this reason, Taiwan provided 54 million surgical masks, 35,000 forehead thermometers, 830,000 isolation gowns and protective clothing, and other key items including PCR test devices, rapid testing kits, and medical gloves to more than 80 countries in 2020. Till February 2021, Taiwan has held more than 140 videoconferences with officials, hospitals, universities and think tanks of 60 countries to share its experience and expertise and strengthen the international anti-pandemic cooperation. These are the best practices fully embody the ideal “Taiwan can help” and “Taiwan is helping”.
Taiwan has been widely applauded for its management of the pandemic with one of the lowest per capita COVID-19 rates and brilliant economic performance in the world, and life for its 24 million people goes as nearly normal. In 2021 till now, 1,084 parliamentarians from 30 countries of Europe, 250 from 17 countries of Indo-Pacific region and nearly 100 from Caribbean region have consecutively expressed their support for Taiwan’s participation in WHA. Besides, G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, French Senate, Slovak Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee and US Secretary of State also extended their support to Taiwan. However, despite the unceasing spread of the deadly contagion, WHO continues to exert political considerations to deprive Taiwan’s 24 million people of their fundamental right to health by restricting its direct contact and communication with WHO and its participation in related activities, meetings and mechanisms, which has undoubtedly harmed global anti-pandemic cooperation.
As the world is still suffering from health threat and economic recession, nothing is more urgent and compelling than the global community working together against the pandemic. In 2021, global online database Numbeo ranked Taiwan as the best in the world for three consecutive years in its Health Care Index. In addition, Taiwan’s economic growth reached 3.11% in 2020, and is estimated to hit 4.7% to 5.1% for 2021 by International Monetary Fund(IMF) and other international organizations. The COVID-19 has proved that Taiwan is an integral part of the global public health network and governance system as well as global supply chains. COVID-19 pandemic is beyond boundaries, and the exclusion of Taiwan from the global anti-epidemic system will undoubtedly create a disturbing and alarming gap in the international public health system with unpredictable consequences. Only through the effort and support for Taiwan’s inclusion in WHO can ensure and fulfill the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health stipulated in the WHO Constitution and the vision of leaving no one behind enshrined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
