简体中文
The Chinese mainland said participation of the Taiwan region in the activities of international organizations must be dealt with in accordance with the one-China principle. The mainland delegation reiterated its position at a press conference ahead of the opening of the 70th World Health Assembly, which took place from May 22-31 in Geneva.
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations. Resolutions of UN General Assembly and World Health Assembly provide the legal basis for the WHO to follow the one-China principle.
“The position of the Chinese government regarding the participation of Taiwan region in international organizations has been very consistent. That’s one-China principle must be observed,” said Li Bin, Minister of China’s National Health and Family Planning Commission.
Since 2009, Taiwan region had been participating in the World Health Assembly with observer status for eight consecutive years.
It was a special arrangement made on the premise of “one-China principle” after consensus has been reached through cross-Strait consultations.
“It is the Democratic Progressive Party itself which has set the barrier that has impeded the participation of the Taiwan region into the World Health Assembly,” Li said. “Only when the political basis that reflects the 'one-China principle' has been confirmed, can the regular exchanges across the Strait be sustained.”
“After the Democratic Progressive Party came into power in the Taiwan region, it refused to recognize that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China. By so doing, it undermined the political basis of the cross-Strait relations, and made the cross-Strait contact and communication mechanism come to a standstill. As a result, the political basis of the Taiwan region's participation in the World Health Assembly has ceased to exist.”
Li Bin stressed that on the premise of the one-China principle, the central government of China has made proper arrangements for the Taiwan region to participate in global health affairs. Experts from the Taiwan region can participate in WHO-related technical meetings and activities, while WHO may send experts to the island when needed. Taiwan region can also access the information on public health emergencies released by the WHO. The so-called epidemic prevention gap doesn’t exist at all.
(CGTN)
