On 5 and 10 April respectively, UK Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Health Jackie Doyle-Price and Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Mark Field expressed support for Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Organisation (WHO) and 72nd World Health Assembly (WHA) from 20-28 May. Both ministers stated that the Government is working with like-minded countries to lobby the WHO at the official level to issue an invitation to Taiwan to observe the WHA in May, adding that the UK continues to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organisations where it can make a valuable contribution. The statements were issued in response to questions from UK parliamentarian Martin Vickers MP asking what steps the ministers’ departments had taken to support Taiwan’s participation in the WHA and WHO technical meetings.
On 16 April, British-Taiwanese All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Co-Chairs Nigel Evans MP and Lord Rogan as well as the Heads of Taiwan parliamentary friendship groups in the EU, Germany and France wrote a joint letter to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus calling for Taiwan’s participation in the global health body. The parliamentarians pointed out that Taiwan’s exclusion from the WHA in the past two years has created serious gaps in the global health security system. The letter also highlighted Taiwan’s advanced medical research and continued improvement in its disease prevention capabilities in line with the International Health Regulations.
