WHO Excludes Taiwan at China’s Behest

At 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.

TC

About the Author

Tom Chih-Chiang Lee

Tom Chih-Chiang Lee is an ambassador at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York

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At 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.