Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2017-02-16

The foreign ministry has begun work on securing Taiwan an observer seat at this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA). That was the word from foreign ministry official Michael Hsu on Thursday.

The WHA is the annual meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO). This year’s meeting will take place from May 22-31. Hsu told reporters that the WHO will likely begin sending out invitations to observers in mid-March. Hsu said Taiwan has already communicated its hope to attend this year’s WHA. He also said Taiwan will work to build support for its participation among its diplomatic allies and other countries with similar values.

Hsu said Taiwan hopes to receive an invitation so that it can help meet the WHO’s 2030 sustainability goals.

Taiwan’s attendance at last year’s WHA was fraught with uncertainty in the run-up to the event due to interference from China. Beijing’s boycott of President Tsai Ing-wen’s administration also meant Taiwan was not invited to last year’s meetings of the International Civil Aviation Organization and Interpol.    [FULL  STORY]