TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan representative to Sweden Klement Gu (谷瑞生) called for Taiwan’s inclusion in the World Health Assembly in an opinion article published on Wednesday. 

Due to its exclusion from the WHA, Taiwan cannot provide or access virus surveillance information through systems such as the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System, Gu said. Taiwan’s medical institutions are also unable to issue internationally recognized digital health certificates under the Global Digital Health Certification Network.

Gu pointed out that Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control was the first to notify the World Health Organization about the coronavirus, despite not being a member. Taiwan’s robust public health system is considered a model for other countries, he said. For the seventh consecutive year, Taiwan has ranked first globally in the “Health Care Index” published by Numbeo.

The European Parliament has repeatedly shown strong support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the WHO, Gu said. This month, it passed a resolution stating that China’s territorial claims over Taiwan have no basis in international law, he said.

Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard has also repeatedly affirmed the government's support for Taiwan’s international participation, Gu said.

The representative thanked the Swedish government for its support and said Taiwan has the capability and the desire to work with other countries to achieve the goal of “Health for All.”