Chen Chien-jen: China blocks our participation in the WHO Assembly
The Taiwanese vice president accuses Beijing. Taipei asks to take part as an observer state. For the Chinese, Taiwan is not a sovereign state. Among the 15 diplomatic allies of the island, only the Vatican has not expressed support for its participation. 66% of the inhabitants of the "rebel province" consider themselves Taiwanese.
Taipei (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Due to pressure from China, Taiwan has little chance of attending the World Health Organization (WHO) Assembly on May 18 and 19, Taiwanese vice president Chen Chien-jen revealed yesterday.
Taipei is asking to participate in the WHO decision-making body meeting as an observer state. Beijing opposes this, arguing that the island is not a sovereign state, but a "rebel" province, to be forcibly reunited if needed. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) maintains China that must submit Taiwanese applications to the WHO, provided that Taipei recognizes the "principle of one China".
Taiwan is one of the countries that has faced the pandemic crisis most successfully. International support for hits participation in the WHO Assembly has grown in recent days. The United States, Australia, New Zealand and Japan have expressed themselves openly in this regard.
As did 14 of the 15 states that have formal diplomatic ties with Taipei. The Vatican, which participates as an observer in the WHO's work, is the only diplomatic ally of the island that has not made such a request to Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the Organization.
Tensions between Taipei and Beijing worsened in 2016, when the current Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen won her first term. Tsai is the leader of the People's Democratic Party, in favor of the island's formal independence from the Chinese motherland.
According to a survey published on May 12 by the Pew Research Center, a US demoscopic institute, 66% of Taiwanese inhabitants consider themselves Taiwanese, 28% both Taiwanese and Chinese, only 4% recognize themselves Chinese.
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28/01/2021 15:48
