Question: What is China’s position on Taiwan-related issues at the World Health Assembly (WHA)?

Spokesperson: The Taiwan region’s participation in the activities of international organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), must be handled in accordance with the one-China principle. This fundamental principle has been confirmed in UNGA Resolution 2758 and WHA Resolution 25.1.

For eight consecutive years between 2009 and 2016, China made a special arrangement for Taiwan’s participation in the WHA on the basis of adherence to the one-China principle by both sides of the Taiwan Strait. But since the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) came to power, it has placed its political agenda before the well-being of the people in Taiwan, obstinately stuck to the separatist position of “Taiwan independence”, and refused to admit the “1992 Consensus” that embodies the one-China principle. As a result, the political and legal foundation for the Taiwan region to participate in the WHA no longer exists. 

In disregard of the aspiration of all parties and the well-being of the Taiwan compatriots, the DPP authorities have been abetting countries with the so-called “diplomatic ties” with Taiwan to table Taiwan-related motions at the WHA. A handful of countries have encouraged and emboldened such moves overtly or covertly, which goes against the trend of history and is egregious in nature, and has been unanimously opposed by nations around the world who uphold justice. By the time the assembly commenced, nearly 90 countries had sent letters to the WHO to express their commitment to the one-China principle and opposition to Taiwan’s participation in the WHA. This has once again shown that the one-China principle is the common aspiration and the overriding trend, and the fact that the overwhelming majority of the countries hold a just and right position on the relevant issues.

The Chinese Central Government attaches great importance to the health and well-being of the Taiwan compatriots, and has made proper arrangement for Taiwan’s participation in global health affairs on the precondition of following the one-China principle. The Central Government has provided Taiwan with around 400 updates about the COVID situation since the outbreak of the pandemic, and approved 47 visits by public health experts from Taiwan to 44 WHO technical activities in 2021. There is an International Health Regulations Contact Point in Taiwan for it to promptly access information and submit reports related to health emergencies. Taiwan is never excluded from the global anti-epidemic system.