China Blocking Taiwan from U.N. Health Assembly

To begin this decade, just as the international community grappled with a global pandemic, our world also had to become familiar with living through war again. The toll that these global crises take has everything to do with the world’s ability to respond collectively — a topic at the center of the agenda at this year’s World Health Assembly, where public-health officials and experts will convene to discuss how to prevent the next pandemic and improve global health access.

As important as the WHA forum is for public health, this year’s summit will once again be missing a crucial voice: Taiwan’s. After having previously participated as an observer, Taiwan has not received an invitation since 2016 and has been continually blocked from participating in other U.N. bodies. The main reason is China’s misuse of U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758 to achieve its political goals.

JK

About the Author

James K. J. Lee

James K. J. Lee is the ambassador and director-general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York.

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To begin this decade, just as the international community grappled with a global pandemic, our world also had to become familiar with living through war again. The toll that these global crises take has everything to do with the world’s ability to respond collectively — a topic at the center of the agenda at this year’s World Health Assembly, where public-health officials and experts will convene to discuss how to prevent the next pandemic and improve global health access.

As important as the WHA forum is for public health, this year’s summit will once again be missing a crucial voice: Taiwan’s. After having previously participated as an observer, Taiwan has not received an invitation since 2016 and has been continually blocked from participating in other U.N. bodies. The main reason is China’s misuse of U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758 to achieve its political goals.