US courts Chinese anger by stepping up push for Taiwan to take part in World Health Organisation
- Washington and its allies have stepped up call for island to attend World Health Assembly as an observer
- China has strongly resisted any moves to include the island, which it regards as a breakaway province, and the push is likely to deepen the divisions between the two sides
Washington has accelerated its push for Taiwan to be represented at the World Health Organisation in a move that is expected to further deepen the rift with Beijing.
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to rage around the world, the US has promoted the island’s “incredible expertise” in battling the disease and rallied its allies – including Japan, Canada, Australia and the European Union – to support Taiwan’s participation in the global health body.
Washington’s moves were strongly opposed by Beijing which has warned that any official role for Taiwan at the WHO would violate China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of WHO, will hold a two-day meeting on the pandemic through teleconferencing later this month.
Taipei has expressed its strong desire to attend the meeting but said it has yet to receive an invitation.
In a news briefing in Geneva on Monday, Steven Solomon, the WHO’s principal legal officer, said the WHO recognised Beijing as the “one legitimate representative of China”, in keeping with UN policy since 1971.