WHO excludes Taiwan from global coronavirus meeting

NEW DELHI: 73^rd World Health Assembly was held on Monday, November 09, 2020.  In the meeting member and observer states of World Health Organisation (WHO) virtually met Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO. In his opening lines Dr Tedros said that the world must work together to fight and end the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nevertheless, one of the governments, with the best track record of successfully controlling the pandemic was not allowed to attend the meeting. They were not even allowed to observe the meeting.

Taiwan is a self- governing island, which despite its closeness to the centre of the primary outbreak in mainland China was able to control the spread of COVID-19 with only 578 infections and seven deaths from novel coronavirus in population of 24 million people.

China has been claiming Taiwan as part of its territory for decades and continues to put pressure on international institutions including WHO to not recongnise Taiwan as a separate country. Hence, Taiwan has not been representative at United Nations since 1971.

Taiwan has been furiously protesting to be allowed into the WHO or at the least to be given observer status. Regardless of the protests of Taiwan was excluded when the WHO leaders met for the global meeting. According to Reuters, Taiwan government expressed strong regret and dissatisfaction at China’s hindrance in Taiwan, participating in the WHO and the WHO’s continuous ignorance of health and human rights of Taiwan’s 23.5 million people.