GUATEMALA (TVBS News) — Taiwan's ambassador to Guatemala, Miguel Tsao, called for international support for Taiwan's participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA) in an article published Monday (May 6) in the local newspaper El Metropolitano.
The WHA is set to take place in Geneva on May 27. In his article, Tsao emphasized Taiwan's ability to quickly identify and respond to public health emergencies, a skill demonstrated since the outbreak of COVID-19. This ability is crucial in curbing virus transmission and protecting public health.
The WHA is scheduled on May 27 in Geneva. Tsao highlighted in his article Taiwan's capacity to respond to public health emergencies promptly; this has been shown since the COVID-19 pandemic, which is essential to halting the spread of viruses and preserving public health.
Taiwan has been working closely with allies and has helped improve medical quality in Guatemala through healthcare cooperation programs. However, due to political interference from China, Taiwan remains excluded from the World Health Organization (WHO), hindering preparation and effective response to future epidemics.
Tsao argued that Taiwan's participation in the WHO would facilitate international cooperation in monitoring new virus strains, exchanging diagnostic data, and researching vaccines and treatment methods. He reiterated his call for countries with shared values to support Taiwan's participation in WHO meetings and activities as an observer.
Guatemala, a diplomatic ally, has consistently voiced support for Taiwan at the WHA over the years, urging the WHO to recognize the necessity of Taiwan's inclusion.