Rejection of Taiwan's observer membership in WHA shows One-China principle cannot be challenged: Chinese FM

The 76th World Health Assembly (WHA) decided on Monday to reject a proposal by some countries to invite Taiwan to join the WHA as an observer, which is the number of years in a row that the WHA has rejected the so-called Taiwan-related proposals, Mao Ning, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said on Monday, noting this fully shows that the one-China principle has international support and represents the prevailing trend that cannot be challenged.

The General Committee and the Plenary Session of the 76th World Health Assembly respectively made decisions to reject Taiwan-related proposals. This is the number of years in a row that the WHA has rejected the so-called Taiwan-related proposals, the spokesperson noted.

The 76th World Health Assembly (WHA), kicked off here on Sunday, focused on "saving lives, driving health for all," the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a statement. At present, global health security still faces serious challenges, with strengthening solidarity and cooperation being the common expectation of all member states at the Conference. 

However, after coming into power in 2016, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has placed political calculations before the Taiwan people's welfare and remained headstrong on "Taiwan independence." As a result, the political foundation for the Taiwan region to participate in the WHA no longer exists.

In disregard of the views expressed by various parties and what is best for our Taiwan compatriots, the DPP authorities put countries having so-called "diplomatic ties" with Taiwan up to making the proposal. Certain countries either overtly or covertly encouraged and supported this move. These egregious moves go against the trend of history and deliberately undermine international rules. They have been unanimously rejected by countries taking a just stand. 

In fact, The Chinese Central Government attaches great importance to the health and well-being of our compatriots in the Taiwan region, and has made proper arrangement for Taiwan's participation in global health affairs under the prerequisite that the one-China principle is upheld. According to the arrangement agreed on between China and WHO, Taiwan's medical and health experts can participate in WHO technical meetings given that the one-China principle is upheld.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the Chinese Central Government has updated the Taiwan region on COVID-19 over 500 times. Over the past year alone, medical and technical experts from China's Taiwan region took part in WHO technical activities 24 times, which involved 26 participants.

Moreover, the Taiwan region also has International Health Regulations (IHR) contact points for timely access to and notification of health emergencies. The so-called "gap" in the international quarantine system is nonsense, Mao added.

Chen Xu, China's Permanent representative to the UN Office at Geneva, said in the speech to the conference that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The participation of the Taiwan region in WHO activities must be handled in accordance with the One-China principle. By refusing to recognize that both sides of the Taiwan Straits belong to one and the same China, the DPP authorities unilaterally abandoned the political foundation for participating in the Congress.

Nearly 140 countries have communicated to China that they stand for the one-China principle and oppose Taiwan's participation in the WHA. Nearly 100 countries wrote to the WHO Director-General or issued public statements to make that clear. This once again shows that the one-China principle has international support and represents the prevailing trend, Chen remarked.

Mao also said the DPP authorities' ploy to seek "Taiwan independence" by taking advantage of the epidemic won't succeed. China also urges certain countries to stop knowingly supporting the false narrative on this matter, stop politicizing issues about health, stop using the Taiwan question to interfere in China's internal affairs and stop using Taiwan to contain China.