Member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) have rejected a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate in the annual World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, following strong opposition from China.
The decision was made during the opening of the WHO assembly on Monday, where China, supported by Pakistan, argued against Taiwan’s inclusion. Delegates ultimately accepted Taiwan’s exclusion from the meeting.
“China does not agree to the participation of China’s Taiwan region in the World Health Assembly in any form,” a Chinese delegate told member states during the session.
Several countries had backed a proposal for Taiwan to attend the WHA as an observer, including the Pacific nation of Palau. Supporters argued that excluding Taiwan could weaken global public health cooperation and disease monitoring.
“Global health governance cannot afford gaps,” Palau’s delegate said. “Excluding any capable and responsible partner, including Taiwan, creates precisely such a gap.”
Taiwan remains excluded from most international organizations due to objections from Beijing, which considers the democratically governed island part of its territory.
Taiwan’s foreign minister arrived in Switzerland on Sunday to attend side events linked to the WHO gathering, despite the island’s exclusion from the main assembly.
Taiwan previously attended the World Health Assembly as an observer between 2009 and 2016 during the presidency of Ma Ying-jeou, whose administration signed major trade and tourism agreements with China.
However, Beijing blocked Taiwan’s participation beginning in 2017 after former President Tsai Ing-wen took office and refused to endorse China’s position that Taiwan and mainland China are part of “one China.”
