LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Let Taiwan attend summit

OPINION:

The 73rd session of the World Health Organization’s World Health Assembly will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, from May 17 to May 21, and will be attended by delegations from more than 190 member states. Regrettably, Taiwan is barred from attending.

Given the continual and rapid spread of the coronavirus around the world, understanding the action items that were quickly implemented in Taiwan may be instructive for other countries. Taiwan’s inability to attend the summit creates serious gaps in the global health security system and threatens people’s right to good health. If the WHO continuously keeps the island cut off from its global coronavirus networks, it may be the rest of the world that pays the price.

With the rapid spread of the coronavirus across the world, more and more countries have noted that Taiwan’s exclusion from WHO poses a regrettable risk to global health and safety. Let’s let Taiwan join the 73rd session of the World Health Assembly.

KENT WANG

Advisory commissioner for the Overseas Community Affairs Council of Republic of China (Taiwan) in the United States

Potomac Falls, Va.