Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian. Figure: Photo of Haike News (file photo)
The 75th World Health Assembly (WHA) will be held on the 22nd. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health and Welfare have made every effort to strive for Taiwan to participate as an observer. However, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on the 9th that Taiwan’s participation in international organizations must be handled in accordance with the “one China” principle, and China cannot agree to Taiwan’s participation in this year’s World Health Assembly. Zhao Lijian also said: “We advise the DPP authorities to stop using the epidemic to engage in political manipulation, otherwise they will only bring shame on themselves.”
When Zhao Lijian hosted the regular press conference of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 9th, a foreign media reporter asked a question. Foreign Minister Wu Zhaoxie mentioned that it is very difficult for Taiwan to obtain an invitation from the World Health Assembly, but it continues to work hard. What is your response to this? Zhao Lijian replied that Taiwan’s participation in international organizations, including the World Health Organization, must be handled in accordance with the “one China” principle, which was confirmed by the UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 and World Health Assembly Resolution 25.1.
Zhao Lijian jumped the needle and claimed that since the DPP came to power, it has placed its political plans above the well-being of the people in the Taiwan region, stubbornly adhered to the “Taiwan independence” separatist stance, and refused to recognize the “1992 Consensus” embodying the one-China principle, which led to Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Assembly. political basis no longer exists. In order to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to safeguard the seriousness and authority of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly and the World Health Assembly, China cannot agree to Taiwan’s participation in this year’s World Health Assembly.
The 75th World Health Assembly will be held in Geneva, Switzerland from 22 to 28. From 2009 to 2016, Taiwan was invited to participate as an observer for 8 consecutive years, but due to China’s suppression, Taiwan was not invited to participate for 5 consecutive years since 2017. Wu Zhaoxie pointed out on the 9th that Taiwan is still waiting for an invitation letter and has not given up its efforts. It is expected that more countries will be able to support Taiwan in a higher-level and more prominent way this year.
