Unprecedented support from like-minded partners around the world for Taiwan’s participation as an observer at the World Health Assembly is sincerely appreciated by the government and people, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Nov. 14.
During a virtual WHA meeting in May, 14 of the country’s allies urged the World Health Organization to invite Taiwan as an observer to its decision-making body, the MOFA said. The matter was raised once more at the second meeting Nov. 9-13 in Geneva, with representatives from Japan, the U.S. and other countries also voicing their support, it added.
The sentiment was shared by U.S. Mission in Geneva Amb. Andrew Bremberg in a recently released three-minute video, in which he urged WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to restore the status quo from 2009 to 2016 by inviting Taiwan to take part in the WHA.
Taiwan’s WHA campaign has received support from other prominent political figures around the world, the MOFA said. These include U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo; Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison; New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern; Japan’s former PM Shinzo Abe; and foreign ministers and deputy ministers of Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and the U.K.
More than 1,700 lawmakers from 80 legislatures, international organization such as the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China and World Medical Association, and 60 plus global media outlets have also expressed support for Taiwan, while two promotional videos produced by the MOFA have garnered 16 million views.
Such strong backing bodes well for Taiwan’s campaign to take part in the next WHA, according to the MOFA. In the meantime, the WHO should adopt a neutral stance, avoid political interference and enable Taiwan’s full participation in its activities, mechanisms and meetings so as to achieve Heath For All, the ministry said. (Taiwan Today)
