Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2017-05-24

Health Minister Chen Shih-chong has held 30 meetings with officials from other countries in Geneva, where the World Health Assembly (WHA) is taking place.

Taiwan had participated in WHA as an observer every year since 2007. This year, however, Taiwan did not receive an invitation, allegedly due to political pressure from China. Health Minister Chen Shih-chong arrived in Geneva on Saturday as the head of a Taiwanese delegation protesting the exclusion.

On Wednesday, Chen said that among those he has spoken to are representatives of the United States and Japan. According to Chen, US Health Secretary Tom Price expressed his support for Taiwan’s participation in the WHA. On the other hand, Chen declined to elaborate on his talks with Japanese officials due to their hopes that media exposure be kept to a minimum.    [SOURCE]