Excluding Taiwan from the WHO is wrong
Political pressure from China deprives my country the right to join the global fight against Covid-19
The 73rd World Health Assembly (WHA) is being held virtually this week, with nations around the world meeting to discuss how to handle Covid-19 as it continues to have an enormous impact on global politics, economics, trade and financial systems, and a second wave hits countries hard.
Although Taiwan has received acclaim for its success in containing the virus, it is nevertheless still not able to take part in the global forums fighting the pandemic or to share its experience with the international community, due to political pressure from China. This is not only unjustifiable, but the absence of Taiwan’s input on pandemic prevention is also a great loss to the global community.
Taiwan has successfully contained Covid-19 through prudent action, rapid response, and openness and transparency. Stringent border controls, a vigorous test-and-trace system, using mobile phone location data, as well as a collective willingness to wear masks, have all contributed to its success in suppressing the virus. As of November 9, Taiwan has had just 578 confirmed cases and seven deaths. In fact, a locally transmitted case has not occurred for more than 200 days, which has meant life and work have continued much as normal for the majority of people.
To further help other countries curb the spread of the disease, we have shared our experience and medical resources with those nations in serious need, including the UK. Taiwan has so far donated 51 million surgical masks, 1.16 million N95 masks, 600,000 isolation gowns, and 35,000 forehead thermometers to more than 80 countries. Even though Taiwan has so far been relatively unscathed by the epidemic, we are not complacent, and we stay prepared for future waves. This potential threat means it is urgent that Taiwan participates in global health meetings so we don’t miss out on critical information.
The “Taiwan Model” for combating
Covid-19 and our willingness to help other countries in their time of need earned the country unprecedented international support for its bid to attend the WHA in May earlier this year. Back then, leaders such as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, and US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, all declared publicly their support for Taiwan’s participation and called for the World Health Organisation to put aside politics. But Taiwan ultimately remains excluded from taking part.
Taiwan attended the WHA as an observer for eight years from 2009 to 2016. But this was brought to a halt because of pressure and interference from China. This political decision not only deprives the 23.5 million people of Taiwan of their right to receive help when we are in desperate need – as it did during the 2003 Sars pandemic – but it has also been harmful in the global struggle to defeat Covid-19.
The repeated argument by the WHO that Taiwan is fully engaged in the global health system under its current status is factually incorrect. Taiwan’s participation in the WHO remains severely restricted: Taiwan was not invited to take part in emergency committee meetings, the WHO
Western Pacific Regional Office refuses to contact or interact with Taiwan, and more than 70 per cent of Taiwan’s applications to attend WHO technical meetings have been denied.
Infectious diseases know no borders and do not discriminate along political, ethnic, religious or cultural lines. Nations should not politicise global health, but instead work together to address the threat of emerging diseases. One fundamental lesson we have learned from the Covid-19 pandemic is that no country is immune from pandemics, and it takes concerted efforts from all countries to overcome the challenge.
Despite not being a member of the WHO, my country is able and willing to assist in the global fight against the virus. We therefore urge the WHO to acknowledge Taiwan’s urgent need and basic right to join the global health system and to recognise its longstanding contributions to global public health and disease prevention. Only by including Taiwan in the WHO can the whole world work together to realise the fundamental human right to health as stipulated in the WHO constitution.