Authorities affirm membership eligibility in the World Health Assembly
By Fang Wei-li and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writer
In the face of mounting global health challenges, Taiwan's exclusion from the World Health Assembly (WHA) is a significant setback, according to Taiwan's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Taiwan should be granted membership to the WHA, a critical international forum for health cooperation, Lin asserted in a news conference in Taipei.
Lin's comments came as Taiwan prepared to send a delegation to Geneva, Switzerland, for bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the WHA. As of the conference, Taiwan had yet to receive an invitation to attend the assembly. China, who opposes Taiwan's participation in the WHA, has been citing a distorted interpretation of UN Resolution 2758 (1971) to block Taiwan's attendance.
The proven record of Taiwan's healthcare system, which covers 99% of the population and aids disadvantaged groups and ethnic minorities, is a valuable asset to the international community and could significantly contribute to the WHA's Global Plan of Action for Health of Indigenous Peoples, Lin pointed out.
The Political Roadblock
China's insistence on excluding Taiwan from the WHA is based on the misinterpretation of UN Resolution 2758 (1971), which recognized the People's Republic of China (PRC) as the sole legitimate representative of China at the UN. Despite the resolution's affirmation focusing on China, the PRC has used this vague authorization to deny Taiwan a voice in the WHA. This political maneuvering has persisted since at least 2016[1][3][5].
A Matter of Fairness and Strengthening Global Health Security
Arguments supporting Taiwan's inclusion emphasize that the exclusion is politically motivated rather than health-related. Taiwan is a robust, democratic government with the rightful claim to represent its citizens. Moreover, Taiwan has showcased its collaboration on global health initiatives, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, where it shared critical medical resources worldwide[4].
Taiwan's innovative advancements in digital health, demonstrated by its National Health Insurance cloud and AI-assisted healthcare tools, align with the WHO's priorities for health system strengthening and digital health. Recognizing Taiwan's expertise in these areas could be of tremendous benefit to the WHO and the global community[4].
Excluding Taiwan undermines the WHO’s mission to provide health for all and leave no one behind, as Taiwan stands ready, willing, and able to contribute to international health agendas. Advocates call on the WHO Secretariat to resist China’s political pressure and welcome Taiwan's equal participation in global health decision-making forums like the WHA[1][4][5].
Moving Forward
As the global community battles urgent health crises, Taiwan's potential contributions to the WHA remain a missed opportunity. In this spirit, Taiwan's Minister of Health and Welfare, Chiu Tai-yuan (邱泰源), criticized Taiwan's exclusion as an injustice. The government is determined to fight for Taiwanese citizens' right to health and remain part of the global health conversation[1].
Taiwan's delegation plans to participate in a forum on Taiwan's experience with universal health coverage and AI-assisted healthcare, inviting delegations from Japan, Thailand, the US, the UK, Germany, Switzerland, and other countries[2]. This event demonstrates Taiwan's commitment to knowledge sharing and collaboration in the global health sector.
[1] Council on Foreign Relations, Tensions Over Taiwan's WHO Membership, https://www.cfr.org/article/tensions-over-taiwans-who-membership, accessed May 22, 2023
[2] The Taipei Times, Taiwan’s delegation to get set for WHA side event on universal health coverage, https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2023/05/22/2003772450, accessed May 22, 2023
[3] Health Issues in Taiwan, Taiwan's Exclusion from the WHO: Pros and Cons, https://health-issues-intrends-tft.medium.com/taiwans-exclusion-from-the-who-pros-and-cons-4b0c03c94fec, accessed May 22, 2023
[4] Center for Strategic and International Studies, Taiwan's Digital Health Innovations Improve Global Health Security, https://www.csis.org/analysis/taiwans-digital-health-innovations-improve-global-health-security, accessed May 22, 2023
[5] Taiwan Today, Global community reiterates support for Taiwan's participation in global health events, https://www.taiwantoday.tw/news.cfm?id=4281038, accessed May 22, 2023
- The proven record of Taiwan's healthcare system, which aids disadvantaged groups and ethnic minorities, could significantly contribute to the World Health Assembly's (WHA) Global Plan of Action for Health of Indigenous Peoples.
- Taiwan's innovative advancements in digital health, such as its National Health Insurance cloud and AI-assisted healthcare tools, align with the WHO's priorities for health system strengthening and digital health, offering tremendous benefits to the WHO and the global community.
