OPINION:
When the world meets in Geneva to determine the policies of the World Health Organization (WHO) and to review a specific health agenda prepared by executive board, the 23 million people of Taiwan will be without a voice in those talks. Building a healthier future for people all over the world is a global issue that knows no borders. It requires not only national, but global solutions. If WHO continuously excluded Taiwan from participation, what message does it send to the rest of the world?
In the area of public health, it is in everyone’s interest for Taiwan to play a role in addressing global disease issues. China’s efforts to exclude Taiwan from the World Health Assembly (WHA) are harmful to cross-strait relations and run counter to Beijing’s own professed goal of winning the support of the people of Taiwan. President Trump needs to do more to bring Taiwan into the international disease-prevention system, which will benefit many nations and help WHO become more effective in its prevention efforts. The combating of disease concerns all humans and Taiwan should not be excluded from the efforts to fight it.
KENT WANG
Advisory commissioner
Overseas Community Affairs Council of Republic of China (Taiwan) in the United States
Washington
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