Taiwan blocked from WHA because world supports one-China principle, official says

Taiwan's exclusion from the World Health Assembly this year shows that the one-China principle is the consensus of the international community, a spokeswoman for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office said on Tuesday.

The WHA, the highest decision-making body of the World Health Organization, refused to include a proposal on Taiwan's participation in its agenda that kicked off on Monday.

"It shows that there is no path in the pursuit of 'Taiwan independence', and hyping Taiwan-related issues at the WHO is unpopular," said Zhu Fenglian, the spokeswoman.

From 2009 to 2016, Taiwan participated in the WHA as an observer under the name Chinese Taipei. However, the island has been prohibited from the assembly since 2017 after the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party took office in May 2016.

Zhu said that the political basis for Taiwan's participation in the WHA doesn't exist since the DPP has refused to recognize the 1992 Consensus, which embodies the one-China principle, and has stubbornly insisted on the separatist position of "Taiwan independence".

Despite this, the mainland has promoted health exchanges and cooperation between the two sides and has adopted a number of measures to make proper arrangements for Taiwan's participation in global health affairs under the one-China principle, according to Zhu.

She said that Taiwan has effective access to information and aid regarding COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control measures.

The mainland has shared epidemic information with Taiwan 260 times and has agreed to allow health experts from the island to participate in WHO technical activities 16 times since the outbreak, Zhu said.

"The mainland has always attached great importance to the health and well-being of Taiwan compatriots," she added.

The mainland is willing to arrange a prompt purchase of COVID-19 vaccines for Taiwan from the mainland and send epidemic prevention and control experts to Taiwan to share their experiences and provide consultations, she said.

People on the island recently urged the DPP administration to buy mainland vaccines to cope with shortages amid the worsening epidemic situation in Taiwan.

The island has recorded more than 100 newly confirmed cases for 10 consecutive days, with 339 cases on Monday, the island's health authority said.

Zhu said the claim by the DPP that there is a "gap" in global anti-epidemic efforts if Taiwan is not able to participate in the WHA is a political lie and an excuse it is using to seek "independence".

She urged DPP authorities not to go further down the wrong path.

"Any attempt to challenge the one-China principle is bound to end in failure," Zhu said.