Taiwan accuses World Health Organisation of bowing to Beijing over invitation to top health meeting
Taipei again fails to gain entry to the WHO’s main international gathering of the year
Taiwan has accused the World Health Organisation of succumbing to political pressure from mainland China after the island failed to receive an invitation to a major international meeting.
Beijing sees self-governing democratic Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification and has used its clout to diminish the island’s presence on the world stage since Beijing-sceptic President Tsai Ing-wen took power in May 2016.
Last year was the first time in eight years that Taiwan was not granted access to the World Health Assembly (WHA), the WHO’s main meeting.
This year’s assembly is to be held in Geneva from May 21-26 and the online registration deadline lapsed on Monday without Taipei receiving an invite.
“We believe the WHO is a non-political organisation pursuing the highest health standards for humanity and should not solely serve Beijing’s political will,” Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council said in a statement.