Speaking at the 74th World Health Assembly (WHA) on Tuesday (May 25), U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra called for Taiwan to be invited to participate in the WHA as an observer and stressed that the second phase of the continuing investigation into the source of the new coronavirus must adhere to “transparency The second phase of the investigation into the source of the new coronavirus must be “transparent,” “scientific” and “independent.
Becerra said that the new coronavirus epidemic has not only stolen a year from our lives, but has also claimed millions of lives. He argued that the world must act urgently to strengthen health security and pandemic preparedness in order to better respond to the next global health crisis.
Becerra stressed the importance of insisting on transparency and a scientific basis in the second phase of the investigation into the source of the new coronavirus, allowing international experts to fully assess the source of the virus and the situation at the beginning of the outbreak while having independence.
Several U.S. media outlets have recently reported that several researchers at China’s Wuhan Institute of Virus Research were diagnosed with illnesses in November 2019, well before the spread of the outbreak, thus triggering new speculation and suspicion about the source of the new coronavirus, as well as calls for a renewed, transparent and independent investigation into the source of the new coronavirus, while avoiding human interference or political interference.
China’s Foreign Ministry has maintained that a team of experts led by the World Health Organization visited the Wuhan Institute of Virus Research in February and concluded that it was “highly unlikely” that the virus was leaked from the laboratory, and has repeatedly accused Western countries of “politicizing” the investigation into the source of the virus. “. However, the United States, Norway, Canada and the United Kingdom have expressed doubts about whether the WHO panel’s investigation in China was restricted and interfered with, and whether the panel’s findings were fully independent.
In his address to the World Health Assembly, Becerra also said that global cooperation is essential in the face of a range of challenges and that cooperation with non-state entities must continue. He said Taiwan must be invited to participate in the World Health Assembly as an observer.
Taiwan has been excluded from the World Health Assembly for several years since President Tsai Ing-wen took office, amid strong opposition from Beijing.
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