President Tsai Ing-wen (right) meets with MOHW Minister Chen Shih-chung May 27 in Taipei City following the WHA action team’s return from Geneva. (Courtesy of Office of the President)
President Tsai Ing-wen praised May 27 the team led by Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung to Geneva, stating that its efforts on the sidelines of the 70th World Health Assembly highlighted Taiwan’s indispensable role in the global disease prevention network.
Tsai made the comments during a meeting with the group at the Office of the President in Taipei City following their return to Taiwan. Although the nation was unable to formally participate in the assembly, running May 22-31, due to pressure exerted by mainland China, the outstanding performance of Taiwan’s WHA action team underscored the substantive contributions the country can make to worldwide safety and health, she said.
According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the action team engaged in exchanges with national delegations from 31 countries as well as 28 international medical organizations through 59 meetings and forums on the sidelines of the WHA—the decision-making body of the World Health Organization.
Tsai conveyed deep gratitude to 14 Republic of China (Taiwan) diplomatic allies for speaking out in support of Taiwan’s inclusion during WHA proceedings. Many partner nations including Germany, Japan and the U.S. similarly voiced backing for the country’s meaningful participation, demonstrating the success of the action team’s efforts, she added.
According to the president, the people of Taiwan have the right to take part in the WHA and this should not be subject to political interference. Mainland China’s unreasonable suppression of Taiwan has, to some extent, damaged cross-strait ties, she said.
The leaders of both sides need to work together in promoting cross-strait peace and prosperity, Tsai reiterated, adding that Taiwan’s commitment and goodwill remain unchanged and the country will neither bow to pressure nor revert to the old path of confrontation.
As the WHO has elected a new director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of Ethiopia, the president expressed hope that Taiwan will find fresh opportunities for participation with the change in leadership.
Calling the action team’s public relations work a model for other government agencies to follow, the president said the international community has become sympathetic to Taiwan’s position and the team’s endeavors in Geneva will benefit the country’s future efforts to expand its international role.
Minister Chen in a news conference the same day similarly conveyed the government’s commitment to expanding its global health collaboration. The action team’s measures in Geneva established a new approach for engaging in international affairs, fostered awareness of Taiwan’s medical expertise in the global community and highlighted the country’s determination to make meaningful contributions around the world, he said.
According to the MOHW, significant events that Taiwan helped organize on the sidelines of the WHA include a meeting on national health insurance systems with the Swiss Society for Health Policy May 23 as well as a forum on disease control attended by officials from seven countries including the U.S. May 24. These exchanges facilitated information sharing on health trends while strengthening the friendships between Taiwan and the participating countries, the ministry stated.
In 2009, Taiwan was invited to take part in the annual WHA as an observer following 38 years of exclusion. The country has since shared its extensive experience in a range of areas such as providing universal health care coverage and managing outbreaks of highly contagious diseases. This involvement is widely recognized as helping strengthen global disease prevention and safeguard the health of Taiwan’s 23 million people. (KWS-E)
