Shih Chung-liang: Taiwan's Exclusion from WHA Prevents Experience Sharing, Posing a Global Crisis

(CNA, Geneva, 18th) As the World Health Assembly (WHA) begins, Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang stated that epidemic prevention relies on cooperation. With the world facing various infectious disease threats in recent years, Taiwan's inability to formally participate in the WHA means there is no official channel for the world to understand Taiwan's methods and experience. This is not just a loss for Taiwan, but a global crisis. The 79th World Health Assembly convened in Geneva from the 18th, with Taiwan not being invited for the 10th consecutive year. Taiwanese officials and civil society are working in tandem, holding various forums and advocacy actions in Geneva to call on the international community to recognize Taiwan's contributions. Shih Chung-liang pointed out in an exclusive interview with CNA in Geneva on the 18th that political pressure from China is increasing annually and has never let up. Therefore, unable to receive an invitation, they continue to think about how to maximize the benefits of side events, to let the international community deeply understand Taiwan's substantive contributions and realize the impact of Taiwan's absence from the global health network. He said this is precisely why four professional forums were planned this year, including on 'Digital Health' and 'Global Hepatitis C Elimination.' Shih noted that these substantive issues, crucial to global public health development, should have been fully highlighted and discussed in WHA committees. However, over the past 10 years, Taiwan has been excluded from the WHA, resulting in a lack of formal channels for the world to understand Taiwan's practices and experience. Shih said that from the COVID-19 outbreak to the recent Hantavirus cruise ship incident, it once again shows that 'viruses know no borders.' Taking the Hantavirus incident as an example, this event on a cruise ship could have caused a global epidemic prevention collapse and evolved into a crisis, making the WHO highly nervous, holding consecutive meetings and releasing information. He further mentioned that the World Health Organization (WHO) unusually requested Taiwan to share relevant epidemic prevention information, which fully demonstrates that Taiwan's inability to formally participate for the past 10 years is not only Taiwan's loss but a global crisis. After the United States withdrew from the WHO, there are concerns that China's influence will grow, which could also affect Taiwan's international participation. Shih said it is a fact that China has strong influence over the WHO. But it is undeniable that the WHO is still the most important platform for health and medical exchange globally, its importance currently irreplaceable. This is why Taiwan must continue to actively strive to become an observer or member state. However, the US withdrawal has brought variables. He said the US policy change is a crisis for the WHO, but a crisis can also bring opportunities, possibly leading to more bilateral cooperation and highlighting the role of more international medical and health exchange platforms. In recent years, Taiwan's interaction with the United States has continued to strengthen, becoming closer and more frequent than in the past, and on this basis, expanding interaction and exchange with other countries. During this year's WHA, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs jointly held the 'Taiwan Smart Healthcare and Health Industry Exhibition' to promote health diplomacy, with a response far exceeding expectations and a constant stream of visitors. Shih said that by combining regular domestic forums with international organizations in which Taiwan can substantively participate, short-term activities during the WHA can be transformed into regular activities and platforms. Using various different methods to participate in the international community, letting the world see Taiwan, and truly letting 'Taiwan Can Help' ferment. (Editor: Chang Chih-hsuan) 1150519