Taiwan hopes to have a place in the World Health Assembly

Taipei, Taiwan Taiwan and her supporters have launched a serious campaign to see her again as an observer at the World Health Assembly, the governing body of the World Health Organization, which met on May 24.

Taiwan’s successful handling of COVID-19 for over a year and a half sparked renewed interest in Taiwan’s absence from the World Health Assembly, in which there was no attendance since the election of President Tsai Ing-wen in 2016.

U.S. lawmakers have regularly called on Taiwan to return as an observer in recent years, but this time the G7 supported Taiwan as a coordinated social media campaign this year under the hashtag #LetTaiwanHelp, expanded to include lawmakers from the United States. ‘Europe and Australia. Canada and New Zealand.

At the end of April, 16 members of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance for China (IPAC) released a video of a campaign calling on the World Health Assembly to invite Taiwan, coinciding with an increase in tweets from lawmakers in Congress and the Department of Justice. ‘State.

“In the past, congressional efforts have focused on sending letters to the World Health Organization, executive branch, or overseas capitals requesting support for Taiwan’s incorporation.” Jessica Dron, a non-resident fellow at the US Project 2049 Institute, said: “There have been a lot this year. The audience is therefore a far-reaching approach.

“It brought in MPs from all over the world – and from all parties. She was also able to grow organically on the social media platform, making statements from other leaders, as well as public figures and activists.

Taiwan’s Vice Foreign Minister Tian Chung Kwang said the government would continue to hope for an invitation until the last minute, as it uses the hashtag #LetTaiwanHelp to rally support and the new hashtag #TaiwanIsHelping for support the donation of oxygen tanks and other medical devices. deliveries to hard hit countries like India.

#LetTaiwanHelp

Yeh Qingchuan, who attended the World Health Assembly as an observer in 2009 while serving as health minister, said Taiwan was able to attract around 15 experts at the time to attend. science sessions and attending topics such as the island’s successful national insurance program.

“It’s a short meeting,” Yeh said.

“The World Health Assembly only lasts two days and after that there are scientific meetings, but it’s a meaningful participation. For those countries which do not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, they are still interested in certain areas and communicate with our experts even after their return. “

High-level meeting with Taiwanese Minister Chen to discuss the current epidemic and global health issues. The United States supports Taiwan’s ability to access vaccines, its contributions to health protection, and its return to its control center by #WHA #LetTaiwanHelp pic.twitter.com/xC4cPoFSZm

– Global Affairs Office, HHS (HHS_Global) May 21, 2021

#HRBC As Chairman of the Technical Cooperation Group on Policy Management, I would like to congratulate the Chairman Embed a tweet It celebrates its first anniversary of inauguration

Taiwan faces challenges with the spread of the coronavirus, showing that the disease knows no borders. Taiwan should be included in the World Health Organization.

Judy SgroMP May 20, 2021

Medical experts will likely like to hear from the Taiwanese delegation how it has handled and often contains COVID-19.

As of this month, the island has recorded fewer than 1,200 coronavirus cases and 12 deaths, although infection rates in Taipei and New Taipei are now increasing following an outbreak linked to a cluster that started with a group of Chinese Airlines pilots in early May.

Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China, was originally represented in the World Health Organization and the World Health Assembly, but was kicked out of the organizations in 1972, a year after the Beijing’s formal admission to the United Nations.

Taiwan had been invited to attend an observer during Ma Ying-jeou’s relatively friendly presidency from 2009 to 2016, but that offer was canceled when Tsai took office.

new friends

Since being elected, Beijing, which claims the autonomous island is part of it, has pushed for limiting Taiwan’s international presence and participation, even in non-political organizations such as the World Health Organization and the United Nations. international civil aviation (ICAO).

The number of countries with which Taiwan has maintained official diplomatic relations since Tsai became president – with just 15 countries recognizing Taipei above Beijing, has declined.

However, growing concern about China’s influence in Europe has also brought new allies in Taiwan to unexpected places, including Lithuania, the Czech Republic and the European Parliament.

Taiwan has been unable to attend the World Health Assembly since 2016 under pressure from China. He is doing all he can to attend this year’s sessions [File: Christopher Black/World Health Organization via AFP]

Ahead of the World Health Assembly, the Czech Senate passed a resolution calling on Taiwan to participate in “all meetings, mechanisms and activities” of the World Health Organization, while lawmakers from Lithuania and the Czech Republic participate at IPAC, with representatives from 10 other European countries.

“Two years ago, Taiwan was not seen as one of the main players in the Asia-Europe strategy, nor in the countries.” [individual] Strategies. “This has clearly changed with the developments in Hong Kong, Xinjiang, the coronavirus outbreak and the attention of the US government on the island,” said Ivana Karaskova, Chinese researcher and project coordinator at the International Affairs Association. in Prague.

“As for the practical implications, this should not change the island’s isolation in international organizations and forums, but it clearly indicates that countries are ready to do business with Taiwan.”