On May 18, the 79th World Health Assembly opened in Geneva, Switzerland. The Assembly decided not to include in its agenda the proposal put forward by a few countries on the so-called “inviting Taiwan to participate in the World Health Assembly as an observer”. This marks the tenth consecutive year that the WHA has rejected Taiwan-related proposals.

Ambassador Jia Guide, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Other International Organizations in Switzerland, stated in his remarks at the Assembly that there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, and the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. The issue of Taiwan’s participation in the WHA must be handled in accordance with the one-China principle, as confirmed by UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 and WHA Resolution 25.1. The DPP authorities in Taiwan have stubbornly adhered to the separatist position of “Taiwan independence,” causing the political foundation for Taiwan’s participation in the WHA to cease to exist. Before the opening of this year’s Assembly, the overwhelming majority of countries in the international community reaffirmed to China their firm support for the one-China principle and their opposition to Taiwan’s participation in the WHA.

Ambassador Jia emphasized that the so-called “gap in the international epidemic prevention system” is nothing but sheer nonsense. The Central Government of China has always attached great importance to the well-being of Taiwan compatriots, and, on the premise of conforming to the one-China principle, has made proper arrangements for the Taiwan region’s participation in WHO technical activities. The Taiwan-related proposal seriously violates the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. For their own selfish political interests, separatist forces in the Taiwan region have instigated a few countries to engage in “Taiwan independence” activities at the WHA by putting forward a Taiwan-related proposal. Such attempts are doomed to find no support and are bound to hit a wall and fail.