TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s representative in Geneva, Nicole Su (蘇瑩君), talked with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs Michele Sison about Taiwan’s international participation in a meeting on (April 30).
Su said on X she was “delighted to reunite with an old friend of Taiwan” and that “U.S. support for Taiwan is invaluable.” She reiterated that Taiwan was “dedicated to contributing to WHO and other international organizations.”
Sison also took to X, saying she “discussed Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations” with Su, particularly focusing on the 77th World Health Assembly (WHA) which begins on May 27.
The meeting comes after U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Mark Lambert on Monday called on the global community to oppose China's distortion of UN Resolution 2758, since Taiwan has valuable expertise and resources it can share with the international community.
He lauded Taiwan's contribution to global public health, saying things may have been different if Taiwan could have shared information with the World Health Organization (WHO) before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Taiwan has garnered increasing support for its international participation from democratic partners, including the U.S., Japan, Australia, and European nations. Last year, 13 non-diplomatic allies vouched for Taiwan at the WHA.
This year, Taiwan will send a legislative delegation led by Deputy Speaker Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) to participate in sideline meetings and advocate for participation in the World Health Organization.
Taiwan was able to participate in the global health decision-making body from 2009 to 2016 as an observer under President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) but was blocked after Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) took office due to China's refusal to continue dialogue with the Democratic Progressive Party.
