We are living in a “post-truth” era. In 2016, the Oxford English Dictionary named “post-truth” its word of the year, defining it as “relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.” In recent years, the words and ideas of leading figures in political or social movements have drawn more public attention than the social issues themselves.
Taiwan officials said Saturday that they will closely watch the impact of the decision by United States' President Donald Trump to withdraw the U.S. from the World Health Organization (WHO), with Taiwan's health minister saying the move could create an opportunity for closer cooperation between the countries.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) sincerely thanks Taiwan’s diplomatic allies and like-minded countries for voicing strong support at the virtual 73rd World Health Assembly May 18 and 19 for Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Organization. This support was particularly appreciated considering that the agenda for this year’s WHA had been significantly shortened and each country was only given two minutes to deliver remarks.
Taiwan and the United States release statements on Taiwan’s exclusion from the 73rd World Health Assembly on May 19, 2020. Statement from Taiwan side is as following:Taiwan deeply regrets that the World Health Organization continues to deny Taiwan’s Observer status at the World Health Assembly for political reasons.
On the morning of May 19, President Tsai Ing-wen visited the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control to inspect the Central Epidemic Command Center, and personally invite representatives of front line personnel in the fight against COVID-19 to attend her inauguration ceremony on May 20.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Jaushieh Joseph Wu and Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung expressed the government’s deep regret and dissatisfaction that Taiwan had yet to receive an invitation to take part as an Observer in the 73rd World Health Assembly, which is due to commence at 6 p.m. May 18 Taipei time, at a press conference held the same day at the Central Epidemic Command Center.
Eight countries friendly to Taiwan have called on the World Health Organization (WHO) to grant observer status to Taiwan at the World Health Assembly (WHA), the WHO's decision-making body, given Taiwan's success in containing COVID-19.
After years of unrelenting efforts by the government of Taiwan and civil society, Taiwan’s bid for World Health Organization participation is gaining an increasing amount of international support. As this momentum builds, it highlights the fact that Taiwan’s commitment to a professional, pragmatic, and constructive approach to its WHO bid is the correct one.
Taiwan is a self-ruled democracy and has the same right as any other country to apply for participation in the World Health Assembly, Minister of Foreign Affairs Jaushieh Joseph Wu said May 12.
In a videoconference interview for the France 24 program 1'Entretien on the afternoon of May 8, Vice President Chen Chien-jen shared Taiwan's experience fighting the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and answered questions about Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Organization and whether there will be a second wave of the virus.
