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Taiwanese student strikes back at China for exclusion from WHO

Taiwanese exchange student in the UK takes defiant stand against China for excluding Taiwan from WHO and WHA

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Yang Hsin-tzu poses with Taiwan sign. (Photo by Yang Hsin-tzu)

Yang Hsin-tzu poses with Taiwan sign. (Photo by Yang Hsin-tzu)

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) -- Video has surfaced of a Taiwanese student giving a defiant speech at a simulated gathering of the World Health Organization (WHO) which laid out the reasons why Taiwan's exclusion from the organization and its events should be put to an end.

A Taiwanese student, who is attending the University of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England, posted a video on Saturday (May 19) on a Facebook page under the pseudonym Yang Hsin-tzu (陽醒慈) of a speech she gave last month at a WHO simulation at the university. In the speech, she called for an end to the exclusion of Taiwan from the organization and the World Health Assembly (WHA) as it is based entirely on China's political motives.

The WHO simulation, known as SheffWHO, was held by the University of Sheffield from April 27 to 29. The video shows the closing remarks given by Yang, who served as the delegate of Taiwan, which appeal for the support of substantive participation of Taiwan in the WHA, based on the premise of its independent practice of sovereignty as a historical fact.

Despite its population of 23 million and its high standards of health care, no invitation for the WHO's annual top event had arrived in Taiwan due to Beijing’s continuous efforts to isolate the island. This year’s WHA takes place in Geneva from May 21 to 26 and is the second year in a row that Taiwan has been blocked from the event due to Beijing's bullying.

Taiwanese student strikes back at China for exclusion from WHO
Yang delivering her speech at the WHO simulation. (Photo from Yang Hsin-tzu)

Yang said that the focus of her speech was the legitimacy and the historical record of Taiwan's participation in the WHA, not only for foreigners who had no concept about Taiwan but also to give Taiwanese an opportunity to reflect.

Yang explained that Taiwan is a self-ruling island with an undetermined sovereignty. She said, whatever the legal nuances about the events that may or may not have formally reassigned sovereignty, the island has ruled itself without any interference from China (PRC) since 1949.

Therefore, she called on international organizations to give it the corresponding delegate seats it is due given its independent status. She believes such a realization of justice in the international community will have a positive impact on facilitating Taiwan’s declaration of sovereignty.

She emphasized that Taiwan's current exclusion from the WHO is purely a political decision on the part of Beijing. Under the administration of Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou, the country participated as an observer nation under the name "Chinese Taipei" from 2009 to 2016, however Yang said that this was not in accordance with the Taiwan identity.

Taiwanese student strikes back at China for exclusion from WHO
Students participating in SheffWHO. (Photo from Yang Hsin-tzu)

After President Tsai Ing-wen took office, she refused to recognize the "1992 Consensus," and in response, China has been seeking to punish Taiwan by excluding it from international organizations and meetings, including the WHA.

Yang stressed that the international community and the WHO have an obligation to refuse the intervention of these political forces, because the core spirit of the WHO is "Health For All." If the international medical system is to be fully developed, Taiwan must be allowed to join the WHO.

Yang said that if Taiwan continues to be isolated from international medical care, it will do harm to the people of Taiwan, and will also create gaps in the global health network, putting the world at risk. If fact, if Taiwan joins the WHO, it can make considerable contributions, not to mention the fact that Taiwan has sent medical teams to more than 20 countries around the world, and taken part in more than 50 epidemic prevention programs worldwide, said Yang.

Taiwanese student strikes back at China for exclusion from WHO
Yang (far right) with her classmates. (Photo from Yang Hsin-tzu)

At the end of her speech, Yang emphasized that Taiwan has the legal right to participate in the WHA under its own name "Taiwan." She also said that said that is universal health agenda setting should not be held hostage to the political interests of particular countries.

The following is a summary of the main points of her speech posted on her Facebook page:

"If we hope to build a better world, we can’t let the oppressor get their way. Political and economic powerhouses are violating the international commitments in health by pushing their political agendas above the welfare and security of families, countries and entire regions. Here I introduced the particular case of Taiwan being excluded from WHO in the closing ceremony of Sheffield WHO Simulation (SheffWHO).

What I appeal in my speech:

  1. Taiwan deserves its right to substantive participation in WHO on a legal basis under its own name, Taiwan.

  2. The agenda regarding universal health should not be held hostage by certain actors’ national political interests.

Because:

  1. Based on its de facto independent status, Taiwan deserves a seat in international organisations which can truly represent the interest of its 23 millions citizens.

  2. The omission of Taiwan in the international epidemic reporting system is putting risk to not only Taiwan but the rest of the world given that diseases know no borders.

  3. The decision of excluding Taiwan is purely political and has no legitimate ground, which undermines the independence and authority of WHO.

  4. Taiwan’s performance in medical and health field has proved its credentials in the potential contribution to the global health community.

Taiwan deserves more attention from the international community. Thus, I would like to call for you to be mindful of this issue, and of being possible to share it; such a simple action as sharing this post will help to give a voice to a nation forcibly deprived of it. We long for your support, in the name of health for all, for health knows no boundaries and with no political interests.

'If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor' ---Desmond Tutu"

The video of the entire speech can be seen below: