Northern California Taiwanese Communities Advocate for Taiwan’s Inclusion in World Health Assembly Rally
A group of 12 Taiwanese-American organizations in Northern California held a press conference at the Taiwanese American Center in San Jose on May 4 to advocate for Taiwan’s participation in the upcoming World Health Assembly (WHA).
The purpose of the event was to bring attention to Taiwan being excluded from the 77th WHA session, taking place from May 27 to June 1 in Geneva, Switzerland. Despite Taiwan’s successful handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and its global assistance efforts, political pressures, particularly from the Chinese government, have prevented Taiwan’s involvement in the WHA.
The Chinese government has continuously asserted its sovereignty over Taiwan. In June 2022, Beijing declared complete sovereignty over the Taiwan Strait.
“Viruses do not respect borders, and excluding Taiwan from the World Health Assembly (WHA) goes against the principles of the World Health Organization (WHO). It reveals a flaw in WHO governance, a loss for the world, and an unjust and unfair decision,” stated the 12 organizations.
“Taiwan has been highly effective in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, earning praise and admiration globally. It has set an example for epidemic prevention worldwide and is willing to share its experiences with other nations,” the statement continued.
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Taiwan is in close proximity to China, with frequent interactions between the two nations. With a population of 23.5 million, the island country recorded approximately 8.82 million COVID-19 cases in the initial three years of the pandemic from January 2020 to December 2022, with only 15,253 deaths reported during that time.
The coalition of Taiwanese-American groups was led by key figures in the local Taiwanese community, including Dr. Yeh Chun-Hsiung, the chairman of the Taiwanese American Center, and Dr. Lin Jin-tang, the president of the Northern California chapter of the North American Taiwanese Medical Association. Their impassioned speeches highlighted Taiwan’s healthcare system, particularly its acclaimed National Health Insurance program.
Zhu Yung-chang, the deputy director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in San Francisco, stressed the importance of Taiwan’s involvement in the WHA amidst ongoing conversations at the WHO regarding pandemic response frameworks.
Chuang Ya-shu, the director of TECO’s Cultural Center in Milpitas, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the interconnectedness of global health and the significance of Taiwan’s engagement.
Li Hanwen, a member of Taiwan’s Overseas Community Affairs Council (TOCAC), highlighted that the United Nations Resolution 2758 did not involve a consensus from other nations regarding Taiwan’s sovereignty.
“Resolution 2758 does not prevent Taiwan from meaningfully participating in the U.N. system and other international forums,” she stated.
Additionally, Ms. Li criticized the Chinese Communist Party for misusing Resolution 2758 to exclude Taiwan from the global system.
Dr. Fu Hongyu highlighted Taiwan’s significant contributions to global healthcare, including its production of essential medical supplies that have benefitted many countries.
Meanwhile, Zhang Jia-zhou displayed banners from the San Francisco Bay Area Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce, expressing unwavering support for Taiwan’s WHA bid.
The speakers stressed the importance of not silencing Taiwan’s voice on the global health stage, vowing to continue their efforts until justice prevails.
Li Qinyi contributed to this report.
