Taiwan Hits Back At WHO Over Beijing Pressure

Taiwan on Tuesday accused the World Health Organisation of succumbing to political pressure from Beijing after the island failed to receive an invitation to a major international meeting.

Last year was the first time in eight years that Taiwan was not granted access to the World Health Assembly (WHA) -- the WHO's main meeting.

This year's WHA is to be held in Geneva from May 21-26 and the online registration deadline lapsed on Monday without Taipei receiving an invite.

The WHO confirmed on Tuesday it did not invite Taiwan this year, saying previous invitations were a special arrangement based on a "cross-strait understanding".

It would facilitate Taiwan's inclusion "if and when cross-strait understanding on WHA participation is restored," it said in a statement.

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, which handles official dealings with Beijing, said as a non-political organisation "pursuing the highest health standards for humanity", the WHO "should not solely serve Beijing's political will".

Taiwan's foreign ministry said on Tuesday it "regretted" that it had not been invited to the WHA.

"Health is a basic human right, as well as a universal value regardless of differences in race, religion, political beliefs, economic or social situations," it said in a statement.

It added that under the WHO charter, Taiwan should be allowed equal participation in all WHO events.

While the WHO said Taiwanese experts "regularly participate in relevant WHO technical meetings", Taiwan said they were able to attend less than 30 percent.

Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Tuesday that the island was only able to attend the WHA from 2009-2016 because the previous Taiwan government had a consensus with Beijing that there is only "one China".

While the island's former administration touted the agreement as enabling cross-strait relations to flourish without compromising Taiwan's sovereignty, Beijing saw it as meaning Taiwan and the mainland are part of a single China.

The President of Taiwan Tsai Ing-wen and her independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party have refused to acknowledge the principle, which Beijing sees as the bedrock for relations.

"Because the DPP refuses to recognise the...one China principle, thus undermining the political basis of Taiwan's participation in the WHO, Taiwan cannot receive an invitation this year," Geng told reporters.

When asked whether Beijing requested the WHO to exclude Taiwan, Geng did not confirm or deny but said it is "normal" for Beijing to have regular communication with the WHO. (AFP)