The inappropriate and irresponsible statements by mainland Chinese authorities in obstructing Taiwan’s participation in the 71st World Health Assembly were strongly protested May 7 by the Mainland Affairs Council.
Mainland China is blocking Taiwan’s WHA participation with its unilaterally asserted political agenda in disregard of the rights and interests of the people of Taiwan, the MAC said. The government strongly protests these actions as they are based on the so-called one China policy and fully demonstrate that mainland China has no intention of improving cross-strait relations, the council added.
According to the MAC, the highest attainable standard of health is the fundamental right of every human being and the people of Taiwan must enjoy this right without discrimination. As a result of malicious actions by mainland China, Taiwan has been excluded from more than two-thirds of technical meetings organized by the World Health Organization in recent years, the council said.
As a nonpolitical organization promoting the highest standard of health, the WHO should not bow to the political will of mainland China, the MAC said, adding that this is particularly important in implementing borderless epidemic controls.
Mainland China has never notified Taiwan of any global epidemic situations, and its statements that proper arrangements have been made in this regard run contrary to fact and are designed to mislead the international community, the council added.
According to the MAC, Taiwan’s medical prowess and global contributions are highly recognized and supported by the international community. Many diplomatic allies and like-minded partners such as Canada, the EU, Japan and the U.S. publicly back Taiwan’s WHA participation, the council said.
The government will continue canvassing global support to safeguard the health and well-being of all, the MAC added, calling on mainland China to stop avoiding its responsibility and placing its political agenda over the health and safety of the people of Taiwan.
If mainland China continues seriously hurting the feelings of the people of Taiwan, such actions will impact cross-strait relations and force it into a trap of its own making, the council said. (SFC-E)
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