US State Department reveals talks aimed at Taipei presence for World Health Assembly meeting
- Monday’s meeting in Washington discussed a strategy to expand the island’s participation in international forums
- Taiwanese and US officials were gathered by de facto embassies in Taipei and Washington, it was announced after the talks
The State Department announced on Tuesday that the talks had taken place, without identifying the participating officials. They included representatives from the State Department and the Taiwanese foreign ministry.
The meeting was organised by the American Institute in Taiwan, the de facto US embassy on the self-ruled island, and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Washington, the announcement said.
The effort was aimed at “expanding Taiwan’s participation in the United Nations system and in other international forums”, it said.
“Discussions focused on near-term opportunities to support Taiwan’s expanded participation in the coming World Health Assembly (WHA) in May and at the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), as well as supporting Taiwan’s meaningful participation in non-UN international, regional and multilateral organisations.”
The talks follow last year’s passage of legislation signed into law by US President Joe Biden, which directs “the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to regain observer status for Taiwan in the World Health Organization (WHO), and for other purposes”.