GENEVA, Switzerland (TVBS News) — The 77th World Health Assembly (WHA) kicked off in Switzerland on Monday (May 27), and Taiwan has not been invited since 2017.
The day before the annual assembly, the World Health Organization (WHO) held Walk the Talk Geneva 2024, where Minister of Health and Welfare Chiu Tai-yuan led the delegation calling for Taiwan's participation in WHA.
Participants, including cross-party Taiwanese legislators, chanted, "Health for all, Taiwan can help!" urging allies to back Taiwan's participation in WHA and showing the country's unity.
At the event, Democratic Progressive Party councilor Chen Nai-yu asked Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus if he supported Taiwan's inclusion in WHA. Tedros stated that WHO works with Taiwan, but members should approve the inclusion.
The Director-General also denied China's interference in Taiwan's participation in WHA.
While many countries, including the U.S., the U.K., Canada, Australia, Germany, and Japan, call for Taiwan's participation, Taiwan is still not invited to the 77th WHA.