Staunch support from allies and like-minded partners for Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the World Health Organization, is sincerely appreciated by the government and people, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said May 29.
Over 3,800 lawmakers, political figures and friends from 88 countries’ governments, law-making bodies and international organizations voiced support for Taiwan’s WHA bid, the ministry said.
Thirteen of the country’s allies called on the WHO to invite Taiwan to attend the WHA as an observer during the 75th edition of the annual meeting, the MOFA said. Similar sentiments were expressed by representatives from like-minded partners including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Lithuania, Luxemburg, New Zealand, the Czech Republic, the U.K., the U.S. and observer group the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, the ministry added.
Heads of government, ministers and officials from around the world also publicly expressed support for Taiwan. These included U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken; Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; Japan, the Czech Republic and Sweden’s Foreign Ministers, Yoshimasa Hayashi, Jan Lipavsky and Ann Linde, respectively.
For the second year running, foreign ministers representing the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations issued a communique including an explicit endorsement of Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the WHO and WHA, the MOFA said, in addition it was also the first time that G7 health ministers also released a communique voicing support for Taiwan.
Furthermore, lawmakers from around the world have lobbied for a seat at the WHA table for Taiwan, with resolutions passed by bodies including the European Parliament and parliaments of Denmark, Germany, Luxemburg, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, the U.K. and the U.S., the ministry said.
A Formosa Club letter endorsed by over 1,500 parliamentarians from 34 countries was sent to urge Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, to regularize Taiwan’s participation, while international nongovernmental groups including the World Medical Association and Association of European Journalists expressed similar support.
Over 140 lawmakers from Canada sent a letter to the Canadian government urging the government to support Taiwan, the MOFA said, adding that Japan’s 41 prefectural legislatures also generated resolutions backing Taiwan’s WHA bid.
According to the MOFA, a delegation to Geneva led by Deputy Health Minister Li-Feng Lee took part in 29 discussions to expand global health cooperation. This was complemented by a short film entitled “Sweetness of Friendship” released by the MOFA, which obtained more than 16.76 million views and articles including Minister Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung’s op-ed, were published by international media outlets from 60 countries.
This growing support from the global community demonstrates that only through Taiwan’s inclusion in the international health governance system can the world achieve Health For All, the MOFA said. The government is committed to working closely with international partners in a spirit of pragmatism, professionalism and with a willingness to contribute to a seamless global health network, the ministry added. (YCH-E)
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