The Japanese government supports Taiwan’s participation as an observer at the World Health Assembly in Geneva this year, stressing that there should be no geographical vacuum in dealing with international health issues.
Kyodo News reported on the 11th that Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato pointed out at a press conference on Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Assembly that “we at the World Health Organization have always pointed out that there should not be a geographical vacuum in dealing with international health issues,” “We support Taiwan’s participation as an observer and will continue to work with the countries concerned to urge the WHO and make our position clear.”
Taiwan is excluded from most international organizations such as the World Health Organization because of China’s opposition, Kyodo said. The Group of Seven industrialized countries requested that Taiwan be invited to the World Health Assembly, which will be held by video from May 24 to June 1 this year, on the grounds that Taiwan should be able to share its experience in dealing with the new coronavirus.
The World Health Organization said the issue of Taiwan’s participation is a “member state issue,” not a WHO secretariat issue.
U.S. Secretary of State John Blinken said in a statement Friday that not allowing Taiwan to participate “undermines our collective international efforts to control pandemics and prevent future health crises.” A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said at a press conference Monday that it was interference in China’s internal affairs.
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