TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan should be included in World Health Organization (WHO) meetings, the director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Guam, Paul Yin-Lien Chen (陳盈連), said on Tuesday (May 3).

In an opinion article published in Guam’s Pacific Daily News, Chen said Taiwan has “played an active, helpful role during the pandemic” by donating medical supplies around the world and contributing to medical research on developing new vaccines and treatments.

Despite this, Taiwan was not invited to the World Health Assembly in 2020 and 2021, Chen pointed out, adding that “continuing to exclude Taiwan will negatively impact global health efforts.” He stated: “Taiwan calls on every nation to support its bid to attend the upcoming WHA as an observer in May 2022 and to endorse Taiwan’s regular participation in all WHO meetings and activities.”  

The director called Taiwan an “indispensable partner” in the global post-pandemic recovery process and said the East Asian nation “seeks to work with the WHO and nations worldwide to overcome every possible public health challenge in the future together.”

Chen said Taiwan calls upon its international allies and partners to continue supporting its inclusion in the WHO. “As the pandemic has shown, good health is vitally important to every citizen of the world, regardless of nationality,” he said.

The 75th WHA will be held from May 22-28 in Geneva, Switzerland.