It is time for the WHO to take a more pragmatic and inclusive approach — one that puts public health above politics.
It is time for the WHO to take a more pragmatic and inclusive approach -- one that puts public health above politics.
A t a time when the world faces mounting uncertainties — from trade disputes to regional conflicts — it is crucial, even if only briefly, to refocus global attention on public health during the 78th World Health Assembly.
Health is a fundamental human right and a universal value. Stronger public health leads to greater individual well-being and has profound implications for national resilience and global stability. The World Health Organization has achieved much since its establishment: eradicating smallpox, nearly eliminating polio, and supporting essential health systems in low- and middle-income countries. Yet it now faces mounting political challenges. In the United States and elsewhere, there are rising concerns about the organization’s response to Covid-19 and its resistance to reform. Questions also persist about WHO’s independence from political influence.
Taiwan’s exclusion underscores these concerns. China has misrepresented United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 and World Health Assembly Resolution 25.1, which recognized the People’s Republic of China’s membership in these bodies, to block Taiwan’s participation. However, neither resolution mentions Taiwan nor grants China the right to represent it in the WHO. Despite Taiwan’s not being a WHO member, its exclusion has not diminished its global contributions. Taiwan has long aligned its public health initiatives with WHO guidelines and has remained a committed partner in global health.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Taiwan donated medical supplies and shared public health strategies widely. Taiwan was the first to report the Covid-19 outbreak in China in 2019 and had previously shared crucial information on avian influenza strains H6N1 and H7N9 in 2013 and 2017, respectively. Taiwan’s actions allowed other countries to respond to these outbreaks more effectively.
Misleading speeches by Chinese officials and WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus have, however, caused people to believe that Taiwan enjoys unfettered participation in WHO meetings and that China is responsible for the health and welfare of Taiwan’s people. This demands clarification.
Director-General Tedros said that WHO works with Taiwan. The fact is, when Taiwan indicates a desire to participate in meetings organized or co-organized by WHO, it must communicate with the WHO secretariat on a case-by-case basis. Over the past twelve years, Taiwan has been invited to a mere seven meetings on average annually. WHO organizes hundreds of meetings every year, meaning that Taiwan’s participation is exceedingly limited. Without WHO membership, Taiwan did not receive timely information during the 2003 SARS outbreak, preventing an effective response and leading to significant loss of life. As long as this exclusion continues, Taiwan’s government will continue to work with other countries and international organizations to obtain the latest health-related information, ensuring that the health rights of the Taiwanese people are not compromised.
On the other hand, China claims that it oversees the health of Taiwan’s people. But the health rights of Taiwan’s 23.5 million people are solely the responsibility of the people and government of Taiwan. Additionally, when trouble strikes, other nations offer far greater assistance to Taiwan than China does.
With the lessons learned from SARS, Taiwan was able to quickly implement measures to prevent and control the Covid-19 pandemic. During both the SARS and Covid-19 outbreaks, China provided Taiwan with no aid, no epidemic information, and no protective supplies. When Taiwan lacked Covid-19 vaccines, support from like-minded countries such as the United States, Japan, and the Czech Republic alleviated the situation. China has never prioritized the health of Taiwan’s people.
In addition, China claims to have approved Taiwan’s participation in 21 technical meetings in 2012. Again, over the past twelve years, Taiwan was invited to attend only an average of seven meetings annually. Our applications to participate in closed-door meetings are rejected 60 percent of the time. Taiwan’s participation in international health affairs affects the fundamental right to health of its 23.5 million people and should not be subject to outside consent. Only Taiwan’s democratically elected government can represent the people of Taiwan in the U.N., WHO, and other international organizations. We urge the public not to be misled by China’s false narratives.
In today’s interconnected world, health threats know no borders. While the United States has announced its intention to withdraw from WHO, a strong and healthy WHO remains central to the health of the global population. The participation and contributions of all countries are needed to ensure global health.
As a committed member of the international community, Taiwan is ready and willing to contribute. The U.N.’s own principles of universality and inclusiveness demand that Taiwan be included — especially in mechanisms related to the pandemic agreement currently under negotiation.
It is time for the WHO to take a more pragmatic and inclusive approach — one that puts public health above politics. Doing so would reaffirm the organization’s commitment to professionalism and reform, rebuild trust, and move the world closer to achieving the right to health for all as enshrined in the WHO Constitution and the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. It would also mark a concrete step toward fulfilling the theme of this year’s World Health Assembly: One World for Health.