Taipei Times
Date: Mar 21, 2018
By: Stacy Hsu  /  Staff reporter

The nation’s likelihood of receiving an invitation to the World Health Assembly (WHA) is even lower than last year due to Beijing’s mounting pressure, a government source said yesterday.

After being invited to the WHA as an observer for eight consecutive years since 2009, Taiwan last year did not receive an invitation, likely as a result of Beijing’s efforts to limit Taiwan’s international space after the Democratic Progressive Party administration took office in May 2016.

“Over the past six months, the nation has faced far greater pressure from China in terms of [Taiwan’s] international participation,” said the source, who has first-hand knowledge of the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Several incidents have shown that it is even less likely for Taiwan to receive an invitation to this year’s assembly, which is to take place from May 21 to May 26 in Geneva, Switzerland, the source said.    [FULL  STORY]