Xinhua News Agency: For nine consecutive years, the World Health Assembly has rejected Taiwan-related proposals. The 79th World Health Assembly will soon convene in Geneva. We have noted that a small number of countries have once again submitted a proposal on “inviting Taiwan to participate in the World Health Assembly as an observer.” What is China’s comment on this?
Ambassador Jia Guide: At the upcoming 79th World Health Assembly (WHA), China’s decision not to agree to the participation of the Taiwan region in this year’s WHA has received extensive support from the international community. A very small number of countries have, for the 10th consecutive year, pushed a proposal on “inviting Taiwan to participate in the WHA as an observer,” once again staging a farce that is deeply unpopular. China’s position on the participation of the Taiwan region in the WHA is consistent and clear: it must be handled in accordance with the one-China principle. The Taiwan-related proposal has no legal basis, distorts facts and truth, and runs counter to international justice. It is nothing but political manipulation and is doomed to fail.
The Taiwan-related proposal has no legal basis because United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 has already resolved, once and for all, the issue of China’s representation in the United Nations from political, legal and procedural perspectives. It made clear that the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China, including Taiwan. World Health Assembly Resolution 25.1 reaffirmed this explicitly. Taiwan, as part of China, simply has no so-called issue of representation in the United Nations or the World Health Organization. Without the approval of the Central Government, Taiwan has no basis, reason or right to participate in the WHA. It is precisely because the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities stubbornly adhere to a so-called “Taiwan independence” stance and refuse to recognize the 1992 Consensus and the one-China principle, that the political foundation for the participation of the Taiwan region in the WHA no longer exists.
The Taiwan-related proposal distorts facts and truth because, for many years, the Chinese Central Government has made proper arrangements for the Taiwan region’s participation in global health affairs. The so-called “gap in the international epidemic prevention system” is entirely a political lie. Under the prerequisite of the one-China principle, medical and health experts from the Taiwan region are able to participate in relevant technical meetings of the WHO. Under the framework of the International Health Regulations (IHR), the Taiwan region has designated contact points through which it can promptly obtain information released by the WHO on public health emergencies and report relevant information to the WHO in a timely manner. The Chinese Central Government is sincere in addressing the health and well-being concerns of Taiwan compatriots, and the measures it has adopted are practical and feasible. The information exchange mechanism between the Taiwan region and the WHO is smooth and effective.
The Taiwan-related proposal runs counter to international justice because it can only bring political interference to the WHO, a specialized agency, and enjoys no popular support. At a time when multilateralism is facing headwinds and the WHO is under strain, major tasks such as advancing WHO reform, improving global health governance, and strengthening practical cooperation in the health sector are more urgent than ever. This requires all countries to work together in solidarity and mutual assistance. The repeated attempts by the DPP authorities to push Taiwan-related proposals and manipulate the Taiwan question have seriously undermined the WHO’s ability to fulfill its core mandate and have aroused widespread dissatisfaction in the international community. The overwhelming majority of countries in the world have expressed to China their firm commitment to the one-China principle and opposition to Taiwan’s participation in the WHA. More than 100 countries have sent letters to the WHO Director-General or publicly voiced their support. This fully demonstrates where justice lies and where the trend of the times points.
It should be emphasized that this year marks the 55th anniversary of the restoration of the lawful seat of the People’s Republic of China in the United Nations. China will continue to firmly support the work of the United Nations and actively promote cooperation with UN agencies, including the WHO. The WHA has already rejected Taiwan-related proposals for nine consecutive years. We believe the right choice will be made at this year’s WHA.