Su Tseng-chang studies bullets while attending a news conference in Taipei, Taiwan. Ann Wang/Reuters

Gulf Today Report

Taiwan Premier Su Tseng-chang said many countries supported the island’s participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA). China had labelled the proposal illegal and invalid.

Blocking Taiwan’s participation at the World Health Organization (WHO) during the coronavirus pandemic will only increase the world’s hostility towards the country, the island’s premier said on Tuesday.

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“This is not only suppressing Taiwan, it is in fact also damaging to the whole world, creating a rupture in pandemic prevention,” Su added. “What China has done will only cause more and more countries and people to stand up and condemn them.”

WHO member countries rejected a US-backed appeal on Monday for Taiwan to be permitted to attend a meeting of the WHO's decision-making body.

WHO member countries rejected a appeal on Monday for Taiwan to be permitted to attend a meeting.

Chinese-claimed but democratically run Taiwan says its inability to fully access the WHO, because of China’s objections, has created a gap in global pandemic prevention.

Chinese-claimed but democratically run Taiwan says its inability to fully access the WHO, because of China’s objections, has created a gap in global pandemic prevention.

Washington, which has announced under outgoing President Donald Trump that it is quitting the WHO in part because of what it describes as pro-China bias, has pressed for the organiztion to allow Taiwan to attend meetings as an observer. Beijing, which says the island is part of China, rejects this.

The WHO's decision-making annual assembly of 194 states is taking place via video conference this week after being adjourned in May amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Assembly President Keva Bain said a committee had recommended not to approve a proposal to include Taiwan as an observer, which had been backed by around 14 states.

China's ambassador Chen Xu said the proposal to include Taiwan "violates the purpose and principles of the UN Charter and rejects the 'One China' principle.”