PLAN B: Regardless of whether Taiwan receives an invitation to attend the assembly, the minister of health and welfare said he would meet with officials from other countries
Taipei Times
Date: Apr 08, 2018
By: Staff writer, with CNA
A number of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies have sent separate proposals to WHO Director-
Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je, front row third left, and Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung, front row third right, yesterday participate in an event in Taipei marking World Health Day. Photo: Chien Jung-fong
General Tedros Adhanom asking that the nation be invited to attend this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) as an observer, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.
Taiwan has yet to receive an invitation to the 71st WHA, to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from May 21 to May 26, and it has officially asked its diplomatic allies to petition the international organization on its behalf, the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry would not disclose which allies were approached, but said that several countries with which Taiwan has diplomatic ties have written to propose “inviting Taiwan to participate in the WHA as an observer.”
Taiwan would continue to seek an invitation until the start of the assembly, even though the chance of obtaining one appears even slimmer than last year, a source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. [FULL STORY]
