By Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in Belize
The Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) calls on Belize’s support for Taiwan’s participation in World Health Assembly (WHA) that seeks to benefit all humankind.
Nine years ago, having garnered tremendous international support including Belize, Taiwan was invited by World Health Organization (WHO) to attend the 62nd WHA as an observer. Since then, Taiwan’s active participation in WHA and WHO technical meetings has improved disease control in Taiwan and around the world, as Taiwan is committed to assisting Belize and other countries that face health challenges to fulfill WHO’s vision.
This year, Taiwan seeks to continue its professional and pragmatic participation in WHO, including the Health Emergencies Programme, so as to contribute to global efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3) by 2030: to ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages. Taiwan’s absence from WHO would open a serious fissure in the global health system and create significant risks such as spread of epidemics and food safety.
WHO needs Taiwan to build a robust global health system, and Taiwan needs WHO as well. Taiwan’s participation in WHO over the past eight years has enabled Taiwan to share experiences with Belize and other countries, to report and receive disease prevention information promptly, and to better contribute to health worldwide. Taiwan’s continued participation in WHA and other WHO-related mechanisms, meetings and activities, will further ensure the implementation of SDG 3 and serve the interests of all parties concerned: Taiwan, the WHO, and the international community as a whole.
The Embassy reiterates that inviting Taiwan to the WHA conforms to the WHO Charter and universal values of human rights. Only Taiwan can be the representative of its 23 million people and be responsible for the 23 million people’s health and wellbeing. WHO without Taiwan is unfair to the people of Taiwan. We ask the WHO to recognize Taiwan’s longstanding contribution to public health, disease prevention, and the human right to health in the international community, as well as the healthcare partnerships it has formed with WHO member countries, and its importance as part of the global disease prevention system. The Embassy is grateful to Belize in support for Taiwan’s participation in the WHA.
