U.S. to continue push for Taiwan's WHO participation: State Department

Washington, April 29 (CNA) The United States will continue to push for Taiwan's meaningful participation in the World Health Organization (WHO), a U.S. government spokesperson told CNA Tuesday, even though the U.S. has taken steps to pull out of the world health body.

An unnamed State Department spokesperson told CNA that Taiwan is a "reliable and capable partner" around the world, "and its partnerships around the world, including those that advance global health security, provide significant and sustainable benefits to the citizens of those countries."

"The United States will continue to advocate in support of Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations, including the WHO," the unnamed spokesperson said.

In fact, the U.S. did just that during a round of WHO Executive Board meetings in February, according to the spokesperson.

"The United States was pleased to urge WHO member states to support Taiwan's meaningful participation in WHO, including as an observer at the World Health Assembly," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson was referring to the statement made by Jeffrey Hay, first secretary to the Permanent Mission of the United States of America to the U.N., during a meeting of the 156th WHO Executive Board on Feb. 5.

The comments by the spokesperson were in response to a CNA question on whether the U.S. will continue to support Taiwan's inclusion as an observer or participant in the upcoming World Health Assembly, the WHO's decision-making forum, being held May 19-27 in Geneva.

The State Department reiterated the U.S.' ongoing backing for Taiwan's WHA participation even though the U.S. is set to officially withdraw from the WHO in January 2026 after the WHO received a formal letter of withdrawal from the Donald Trump administration in January.

The Republic of China (ROC), Taiwan's official name, left the WHO in 1972 following a decision by U.N. members to expel the ROC and recognize the People's Republic of China (PRC) as the only "legitimate representative of China."

Since then, Taiwan has been unable to attend the WHA even as an observer due to Chinese pressure, except from 2009 to 2016, when relations with China were warmer under Taiwan's then-Kuomintang (KMT) government and Beijing supported Taiwan's participation.

Since 2017, Taiwan has worked closely every year with its diplomatic allies and friendly nations, including the U.S., Japan and the European Union, to push its bid to participate in the WHA, without success.