Geneva: Taiwan's continued exclusion from the World Health Assembly (WHA) is not only a loss for Taiwan but also a "global crisis," depriving the global community of Taiwan's public health expertise, Health Minister Shih Chung-liang said Monday. Speaking to CNA in Geneva as the 79th WHA opened, Shih emphasized that "viruses know no borders" and warned that excluding Taiwan from the global health network creates a dangerous gap in international disease prevention efforts.
According to Focus Taiwan, Taiwan, which is not a member of the United Nations and needs an invitation to participate in organizations affiliated with the U.N., will not attend the WHA for the 10th consecutive year due to pressure from Beijing. Taiwan's government and civic groups are hosting forums and exhibitions in Geneva during the WHA period to share Taiwan's healthcare and public health expertise. Shih pointed out that China's political suppression has intensified, hindering the world from accessing Taiwan's successful healthcare models and epidemic prevention experience.
Shih highlighted the COVID-19 pandemic and a recent hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship as examples of the importance of international cooperation on public health issues. The cruise ship incident prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to hold emergency meetings and request Taiwan to share related prevention and containment information, demonstrating that Taiwan's exclusion is a crisis for the world.
Concerns were also raised about China's influence within the WHO, especially following the United States' withdrawal from the organization. While acknowledging Beijing's strong influence, Shih stated that the WHO remains essential for international health cooperation, and Taiwan must continue seeking observer or member status. The U.S. policy shift might create opportunities for bilateral cooperation and alternative global health platforms.
Shih noted that Taiwan-U.S. interactions have grown closer, serving as a foundation for Taiwan to expand ties with other countries. The WHA is the annual decision-making meeting of the WHO, and Taiwan last attended in 2016 as an observer during a period of warmer ties with Beijing.