The World Health Organization’s annual assembly refused to discuss admitting Taiwan to the meeting, under pressure from China and despite impassioned pleas from several countries.
There have been growing calls to allow Taiwan in as an observer, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of global cooperation on reining in infectious diseases.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says Taiwan’s isolation from the pre-eminent global health forum is unwarranted and undermines inclusive global public health cooperation.
Representatives from 13 of WHO’s 194 member countries, including Belize, Eswatini, Haiti and Tuvalu, presented a proposal to put offering Taiwan permanent observer status onto the agenda.