May 21, 2018
No. 116
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanks the European Parliament and members of parliaments in European countries for supporting Taiwan’s participation in this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) through their interpellations, letters, proposals, public statements, and use of social media.
To protect the right to health of Taiwan’s 23 million people, the government of Taiwan has striven for equal, dignified participation in the meetings, mechanisms, and activities of the World Health Organization. Taiwan’s appeal has garnered the attention and support of the European Parliament as well as the parliaments of several European nations. The European Parliament and individual members, and members of Taiwan Amity Associations, of the parliaments of Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom have spoken up for Taiwan’s participation in the WHA in many ways. The support demonstrates that an increasing number of MPs in European countries endorse the Taiwan government’s position, and that they are willing to speak up for shared values and the global health system. The Taiwan government expresses its sincere appreciation and hopes that the international community will continue to speak out for Taiwan.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterates that only the democratically elected government of Taiwan may represent the people of Taiwan and bears responsibility for their health. It again calls on WHO and related parties to invite Taiwan to attend the WHA and related WHO mechanisms in line with the principle of inclusiveness, to better uphold the right to health of all humankind, and ensure that there are no loophole in disease prevention efforts. (E)