TAIPEI (TVBS News) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has strongly urged the World Health Organization (WHO) to allow Taiwan to return to the World Health Assembly (WHA) as an observer. Blinken made the statement on Tuesday (May 2).
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Blinken's statement once again demonstrates the U.S.'s robust support for Taiwan's participation in international organizations. The government will continue to defend Taiwan's right to participate internationally and strengthen close cooperation with the U.S. and other like-minded countries.
Blinken noted that Taiwan participated in the WHA as an observer from 2009 to 2016. He strongly encouraged the WHO to "reinstate an invitation to Taiwan to participate in the 77th WHA as an observer" so the world can again benefit from Taiwan's expertise and experience.
In his statement, Blinken highly praised Taiwan's public health professionalism and willingness to help solve global health crises and support the global health community. He pointed out that Taiwan's continued exclusion from the WHA would weaken global public health cooperation and security. Inviting Taiwan to attend the WHA is important in implementing the WHO's "Health for all" goal.
Daniel Kritenbrink, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, recently expressed clear support for Taiwan's participation in the WHA, as well as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), at a hearing of the Foreign Affairs Committees of both houses of Congress.
The MOFA expressed its welcome and gratitude for the public support of senior U.S. officials for Taiwan's international participation. The government will continue to defend the rights of the Taiwanese people to participate internationally and strengthen close cooperation with the U.S. and other like-minded countries on an existing good foundation, continuing to give back to the international community.