WHA's rejection of proposal on Taiwan demonstrates one-China principle is where global opinion trends: FM

(ECNS) -- China’s position on Taiwan-related issues at the World Health Assembly (WHA) is widely understood and supported by the international community, and over 100 countries explicitly expressed support for China’s position by writing to the WHO Director-General and through other means, said a Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson on Monday.

The General Committee and the Plenary Session of the 77th WHA on Monday respectively decided to reject the so-called proposal of "inviting Taiwan to participate in the WHA as an observer" submitted by certain countries. This has been the eighth year in a row that the WHA has rejected the so-called proposal concerning Taiwan, according to the spokesperson.

This fully demonstrates that the one-China principle is where global opinion trends and the arc of history bends, and must not be challenged, the spokesperson said.

The Chinese central government attaches great importance to the health and well-being of the compatriots in Taiwan, said the spokesperson, adding that Taiwan’s medical and health experts can participate in WHO technical meetings under the prerequisite that the one-China principle is upheld.

“Over the past year alone, medical and technical experts from China’s Taiwan region took part in WHO technical activities 21 times, which involved 24 participants, and all the applications were approved by the central government. There is an International Health Regulations Contact Point in the Taiwan region for it to promptly access and report to the WHO concerning information related to health emergencies,” the spokesperson said.

The Taiwan region has sufficient and unimpeded channels to participate in the technical communication and cooperation in the WHO and there is no such thing as a “gap” in global anti-epidemic efforts, the spokesperson stressed. “Compared with a handful of countries’ political manipulation that trumpets Taiwan’s participation in the WHA, the Chinese central government’s proper arrangement and concrete actions demonstrate real meaning and sincerity for the livelihood and well-being of our compatriots in Taiwan,” the spokesperson added.

“Once again we would like to make it clear to the DPP authorities: the abiding commitment of the international community to the one-China principle is unshakable and the trend that China will be reunified is not to be reversed,” the spokesperson stressed.

The spokesperson added that “Taiwan independence” runs contrary to the interests of our compatriots in Taiwan, and any attempt to seek “Taiwan independence” by relying on external forces leads nowhere.

“Meanwhile, we urge certain countries to stop distorting and challenging UNGA Resolution 2758, stop fudging and hollowing out the one-China principle, stop politicizing health issues, and stop interfering in China’s internal affairs by exploiting the Taiwan question. Using Taiwan to contain China will only end in failure,” the spokesperson concluded.