Mr. President,

China supports the recommendation of the General Committee not to include the Taiwan-related proposal in the agenda of the Assembly.

First, 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 question of the participation of China’s Taiwan region in the World Health Assembly 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,” which has caused the political foundation for Taiwan’s participation in the WHA to cease to exist. China does not agree to the participation of China’s Taiwan region in the WHA in any form.

It must be pointed out that a few countries have deliberately distorted the relevant resolutions of the UN General Assembly and the WHA, falsely claiming that these resolutions do not mention Taiwan. In fact, since the founding of New China in 1949, China’s status as a subject of international law has not changed, nor has Taiwan’s status as part of China’s territory. The Government of the People’s Republic of China naturally fully enjoys and exercises all the rights of China in the United Nations.

Second, 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 use the Taiwan-related proposal to engage in “Taiwan independence” activities at the WHA. This constitutes a serious breach of the principle of respect for sovereignty enshrined in the UN Charter, and no country that respects the international rule of law should agree to it. We urge a few countries to immediately stop politicizing health issues, and to take concrete actions to uphold the authority and effectiveness of international law.

Third, the so-called “gap in the international epidemic prevention system” is nothing but sheer nonsense. On the premise of conforming to the one-China principle, we have made proper arrangements for the participation of China’s Taiwan region in WHO technical activities. There is no difficulty whatsoever in technical exchanges between Taiwan and the WHO. The Taiwan-related proposal seriously disrupts the proceedings of the Assembly and the normal work of the WHO. The WHA has rejected Taiwan-related proposals for many years in a row.

China requests the President to make a decisive ruling, endorse the recommendation of the General Committee, and reject the inclusion of the Taiwan-related proposal in the agenda of the Assembly.

Thank you, Mr. President.