The 79th World Health Assembly (WHA) has rejected a proposal for Taiwan to participate as an observer in the World Health Organization (WHO) assembly, marking the tenth consecutive year that such a bid has failed.
The decision followed efforts by some countries to include Taiwan in the WHA agenda, a move opposed by China, which asserts that Taiwan’s participation in international organisations must adhere to the one-China principle.
Speaking at the assembly in Geneva, Jia Guide, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva, stated that the issue “must be handled in accordance with the one-China principle as affirmed by UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 and WHA Resolution 25.1.”
“There is but one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. The Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China,” Jia said.
China’s State Council Taiwan Affairs Office welcomed the outcome, describing it as evidence of widespread international support for Beijing’s stance on Taiwan.
Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the office, said the decision demonstrated that upholding the one-China principle is a consensus within the international community.
Chen also criticised Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), asserting that its attempts to gain participation in the WHA through what he termed “underhanded manoeuvres” were destined to fail.
China’s Foreign Ministry reiterated Beijing’s long-standing position that Taiwan’s involvement in WHO activities must be authorised by the central government and conducted under the one-China framework.
“China’s Taiwan region, unless given approval by the central government, has no basis, reason or right to participate in the WHA,” the Ministry spokesperson stated.
The ministry further argued that the political foundation for Taiwan’s participation had weakened due to the DPP authorities’ “persistent separatist stance.”
Beijing maintains that Taiwan continues to have access to global health cooperation mechanisms through arrangements sanctioned by the central government. According to the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, 18 medical and health experts from Taiwan participated in WHO technical activities over the past year, covering issues such as immunisation strategy, vaccine development, mental health, and digital health.
“Taiwan maintains unimpeded and full-fledged information exchange mechanisms with the WHO under the International Health Regulations framework and can access and report health emergency information promptly,” the spokesperson explained.
The spokesperson also noted that cross-strait cooperation mechanisms on infectious disease control and health exchanges remain operational, including forums involving hospital executives and medical professionals.
“These efforts fully demonstrate that the Chinese central government has every sincerity to address the health issues that compatriots in Taiwan care about,” the spokesperson said, adding that claims of a gap in global anti-epidemic efforts were politically motivated.
China accused certain countries of attempting to challenge the one-China principle by supporting Taiwan’s WHA participation.
“The overwhelming majority of countries in the international community have reaffirmed to the Chinese side that they uphold UNGA Resolution 2758, firmly support the one-China principle, and oppose Taiwan’s participation in the WHA,” the Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated.
According to Beijing, several countries expressed support for China’s position through diplomatic channels, including letters to the WHO Director-General. The spokesperson added that international backing for the one-China principle “reflects global opinion trends and the arc of history.”
