May 14, 2024
BEIJING – The Chinese mainland reiterated its stance on Taiwan’s participation in the upcoming World Health Assembly (WHA), emphasizing the importance of the “one-China” principle.
Chen Binhua, a spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, spoke on Monday as registration closes for the 77th WHA.
Chen stressed adherence to the “one-China” principle, citing relevant UN resolutions. He pointed out Taiwan’s past observer status at the WHA under the name “Chinese Taipei” from 2009 to 2016, facilitated through cross-Strait talks based on the 1992 Consensus.
Chen blamed the current impasse on the ruling Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan. He accused them of promoting “Taiwan independence” and rejecting the 1992 Consensus, which acknowledges there is only one China.
Chen emphasized the mainland’s commitment to facilitating health cooperation across the Taiwan Strait. He cited the participation of Taiwan medical experts in WHO technical activities and Taiwan’s access to public health emergency information.
However, Chen condemned the DPP for “exploiting global health concerns” to push for Taiwan’s WHA inclusion. He accused them of seeking to assert “sovereign status” and advance separatist agendas, challenging the one-China principle.
Chen concluded by stating that the international community sees through these “deceptive actions” by the DPP and that such attempts will be met with resistance on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and globally.