NZ criticised for backing Taiwan for role at WHO

BEIJING: China berated New Zealand yesterday for its support for Taiwan’s participation at the World Health Organisation (WHO), saying the country should ‘‘stop making wrong statements’’ on the issue to avoid damaging bilateral ties.

Taiwan, with the strong support of the United States, has stepped up its lobbying to be allowed to take part as an observer at next week’s World Health Assembly (WHA), the WHO’s decisionmaking body, to China’s anger.

Taiwan is excluded from the WHO due to the objections of China, which views the island as one of its provinces. Taiwan says this has created a dangerous gap in the coronavirus fight, and has accused the WHO of bending to Chinese pressure.

New Zealand’s finance and foreign ministers last week backed a role for Taiwan at the WHO.

Speaking at a daily news conference in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said New Zealand’s comments were a severe violation of the ‘‘one China’’ principle, which states that Taiwan is part of China.

‘‘We express our strong dissatisfaction with the statements and resolutely oppose it, and we have already made stern representations with New Zealand.’’

The ‘‘one China’’ principle was the political foundation of China and New Zealand’s relationship, he added.

‘‘China urges New Zealand to strictly abide by the ‘one China principle’ and immediately stop making wrong statements on Taiwan, to avoid damaging our bilateral relationship.’’

China has denounced Taiwan’s WHO attempts as a political stunt aimed at promoting the island’s formal independence, and said it will fail in its efforts.

Taiwan attended the WHA as an observer from 20092016 when TaipeiBeijing relations were warmer. — Reuters