China has strongly criticized the presence of Taiwan’s foreign minister in Geneva during meetings linked to the World Health Organization assembly, accusing Taipei of using international events to promote “Taiwan independence” activities.
The visit comes as Taiwan continues to be excluded from the annual World Health Assembly following objections from Beijing. Despite this, Taiwan regularly sends delegations and holds side meetings to maintain international engagement on health issues.
Taiwan’s Position at the WHO
Taiwan argues that its exclusion from global health discussions creates gaps in international health security and limits cooperation on public health challenges.
Taiwanese officials have continued to push for participation in the World Health Assembly, emphasizing that health cooperation should not be restricted by political considerations.
China’s Response
Chinese officials have reaffirmed that participation in international organizations must follow the “one China principle,” which Beijing considers a prerequisite for Taiwan’s involvement in global institutions.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson accused Taiwan’s delegation of seeking attention through international events, language that reflects long standing tensions over Taiwan’s global status.
Diplomatic Context
Taiwan previously participated in the World Health Assembly as an observer between 2009 and 2016, but its access was blocked after 2017 following a shift in cross strait political relations.
Since then, Taiwan’s international participation in major organizations has remained limited, though it has increased engagement with select European countries and informal diplomatic partners.
What’s Next
Taiwan is expected to continue sending delegations to international meetings and expanding side engagements with global health and diplomatic stakeholders despite restrictions on formal participation.
World Health Organization member states will continue to navigate competing positions between Beijing’s insistence on the one China principle and Taipei’s push for broader international inclusion, leaving Taiwan’s status in global health governance unresolved in the near term.
With information from Reuters.
