Breaking with precedent, no mention of Taiwan by U.S. at WHA

Taipei, May 21 (CNA) United States Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. did not mention Taiwan in his pre-recorded speech Tuesday at the World Health Assembly (WHA), ending support for Taiwan's participation at the WHA by the U.S. representative since 2017.

In a pre-recorded address during the 78th WHA, the annual meeting of the World Health Organization's (WHO) decision-making body, Kennedy explained why the U.S. was pulling out of the WHO, which coordinates responses to international public health issues and emergencies.

"Like many legacy institutions, the WHO has become mired in bureaucratic bloat, entrenched paradigms, conflicts of interest, and international power politics," Kennedy said in his address.

"[The} WHO under pressure from China, suppressed reports at critical junctures, of human-to-human transmission," he said.

He also took the opportunity to ask other countries to follow his country's decision and to invite "my fellow health ministers around the world into a new era of cooperation."

"Let's create new institutions or revisit existing institutions that are lean, efficient, transparent and accountable," Kennedy said.

"Whether it's an emergency outbreak of an infectious disease or the pervasive rot of chronic conditions that have been overtaking not just America but the whole world, we're ready to work with you," said Kennedy, a known vaccine skeptic who has linked, without evidence, autism to vaccines.

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 2025.

Trump has long charged WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of covering up China's responsibility for the COVID-19 pandemic, while also calling the WHO "corrupt" and saying the U.S. was paying more than its fair share to the organization.

During his first presidency, Trump removed the U.S. from the WHO in 2020 but withdrawal requires one year of advance notice. His successor Joe Biden took office six months later and revoked Trump's action before it ever took effect.

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.

U.S. has voiced its support for Taiwan's WHA bid at every annual WHA meeting in Geneva since 2017.

Asked if Kennedy's failure to mention Taiwan in his address meant that Washington no longer supports Taipei in joining the WHO, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) reiterated the U.S. long-held stance over the issue.

"The United States will continue to advocate in support of Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations," an unnamed AIT spokesperson told CNA, even though the U.S. itself remains determined to pull out.

"On January 22, 2025, the United States informed the U.N. secretary general of its intent to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO)," the spokesperson said.

The reasons cited in the statement were "its mishandling of COVID-19, its inability to reform to become effective, its inability to demonstrate independence from political influence of WHO Member States, and China's demonstrated political influence over science and policy within the organization."

Asked about the U.S.' looming departure from the WHO, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said at a Friday press conference in Taipei that U.S. support for Taiwan remained unchanged, as its membership in the organization is valid until the end of the year.

He also said Taiwan would be the first to join any alternative global health framework Washington creates.