Taiwan Attends WHA Sideline Events; MAC States China 'Has No Right to Comment'
As the World Health Assembly (WHA) convenes in Geneva, Taiwan has been excluded for the 10th consecutive year. Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang, leading a delegation to sideline events, was accused of "freeloading" by China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO). In response on May 20, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) retorted that the people of Taiwan have the right to engage with the world and that the Chinese Communist Party has no right to comment. Minister Shih also noted suspected surveillance of the Taiwanese delegation by Chinese personnel and a decrease in attendance from allied nations at events, likely due to Chinese pressure.
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- 📰 Published: May 20, 2026 at 20:07
- 🔍 Collected: May 20, 2026 at 20:32 (24 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 20, 2026 at 20:55 (23 min after Collected)
(CNA, Taipei, May 20, by reporter Lee Ya-wen) As the World Health Assembly (WHA) kicked off in Geneva, Taiwan has not been invited for the 10th consecutive year. Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang led a delegation to attend sideline events, a move China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) called "freeloading off the meeting." The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) responded that the people of Taiwan have the right to engage with the world and that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has no right to comment. Shih Chung-liang led the delegation to Geneva for sideline exchanges. He stated that during a health walk event this year, there were suspected Chinese personnel monitoring the actions of the Taiwan delegation. The number of attendees from allied nations at civil society events also significantly decreased, which he fears may be related to pressure from the Chinese side. This morning, Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for China's TAO, claimed at a regular press conference that Taiwan's participation in international organizations and activities is handled according to the "One-China Principle." She asserted that "the fundamental reason for the Taiwan region's inability to attend the meeting is its refusal to recognize the '1992 Consensus' which embodies the One-China Principle." However, she did not directly respond to questions about the suspected sideline surveillance by Chinese personnel. The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) responded that Taiwan belongs to the world, and the people of Taiwan have the right to engage with the world; the CCP has no right to comment. The MAC emphasized that it is the CCP's usual practice to interfere with Taiwan's international participation through various means. The government will not back down due to the CCP's obstruction and will continue to strive for Taiwan's participation in the WHA, promote international medical and health cooperation, and firmly defend the right to international participation that the 23 million people of Taiwan deserve. (Editor: Chiu Kuo-chiang) 1150520