TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The European Union and 26 countries have so far voiced support for Taiwan’s participation during the 77th edition of the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, reports said Wednesday (May 29).
As in previous years, China exerted pressure to prevent Taiwan from being invited to the annual World Health Organization (WHO) conference in Switzerland. However, since the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of countries saying the group’s “Health For All” slogan should also apply to Taiwan has been growing.
During the May 27-June 1 event, EU Representative Marc Pecsteen de Buytswerve said the WHO needed to promote international negotiation and cooperation, leaving nobody and no area behind, per CNA. Germany’s federal health minister, Karl Lauterbach, said the health organization should reduce its bureaucracy and use Taiwan’s professional expertise.
Compared to last year, five more regions and countries joined those speaking out in support of Taiwan. The newcomers were the EU, the Netherlands, Latvia, New Zealand, and Israel, the report said.
Health ministers and government representatives from the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, and Luxembourg also defended the case for Taiwan’s attendance. The 26 countries and regions included 10 of Taiwan’s 11 diplomatic allies.
While Taipei has not been invited, Health and Welfare Minister Chiu Tai-yuan (邱泰源) traveled to Geneva for bilateral meetings with other delegations and for news conferences and exhibitions to support Taiwan’s case.