TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Overseas Taiwanese participants said WHO officials pressured attendees at a rally supporting Taiwan’s participation in the WHA in Geneva on Sunday to cover up the word “Taiwan” on their T-shirts or remove the shirts altogether, which they described as humiliating and absurd.
The rally, drawing more than 100 people, was held near the Broken Chair sculpture at Place des Nations, across from the UN complex hosting the WHA in Geneva, per CNA. It was organized by multiple groups, including the Walking for Taiwan Association in Europe and Ananasli Kulturverein, a cultural organization that shares Taiwanese culture with German speakers.
Taiwanese expatriate in France, Dan Chuang, told CNA that before the rally began, WHO officials came to the gathering point and aggressively confronted participants. He said officials demanded attendees cover up the word “Taiwan” on their clothing or remove the shirts entirely.
Chuang said there was a large “Who Cares, Taiwan Cares” banner, but officials demanded that the word “Taiwan” not be displayed at the site, CNA reported. He described the situation as “quite absurd."
He said many parents had brought their underage children to the event and had never experienced anything like this before. Some children were frightened to the point of tears.
Chuang said he was initially unsure how to respond until his daughter asked, “Why do we have to cover up Taiwan?” He said that was when he realized how unreasonable the situation was, adding, “We were humiliated and suppressed. We just went through what older Taiwanese and our athletes and artists have long faced on the international stage.”
He said participants complied to avoid further disputes and prevent disruption to the rally. After leaving the assembly area and beginning the march, they once again displayed the word “Taiwan” on their clothing.
Chuang said he had previously only seen such incidents in news reports and felt the participants’ treatment reflected Taiwan’s broader international predicament. He added that seeing children experience the situation without understanding what was happening deepened parents’ sense of helplessness and frustration.
