《TAIPEI TIMES》 Foreign minister attends events on sidelines of WHA

Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung, fourth left, holds placards along with others in Geneva yesterday. Photo: Screen grab from Lin’s Facebook page

RESILIENCE: Although the door to the world is closed, Taiwan built its own stage to showcase its healthcare advancements, foreign minister Lin Chia-lung said

By Huang Ching-hsuan / Staff reporter Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung （林佳龍） yesterday said he arrived in Geneva to attend activities Taiwan is staging in the country to coincide with the World Health Assembly （WHA）.

Lin is the first Taiwanese foreign minister to visit the Swiss city during the annual gathering.

The minister wrote on Facebook that he was joining Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang （石崇良）, members from Taiwan’s medical community, overseas Taiwanese and representatives from the nation’s diplomatic allies in bringing Taiwan to the world.

After arriving in Geneva, he and Shih attended a forum held by the European Federation of Taiwanese Healthcare Associations, and a banquet hosted by the health ministers and permanent representatives of Taiwan’s allies.

They met with Palauan Vice President and Minister of Health and Human Services Raynold Oilouch, as well as Eswatini Minister of Health Mduduzi Matsebula at the banquet, Lin said.

Although Taiwan once again did not receive an invitation to the WHA this year, it has not failed to show up whenever global public health requires its presence, he said, adding that the foreign and health ministries collaborated to launch the first-ever “Taiwan Smart Medical & HealthTech Expo” in Geneva this year.

The expo features outstanding teams from Taiwanese healthcare institutions and enterprises, and showcases the nation’s advancements in smart healthcare, artificial intelligence applications, medical technology and humanitarian assistance, Lin said, describing the expo as a very innovative initiative with distinct Taiwanese characteristics.

“Although the door to the world is closed, Taiwan did not stand still, instead, we built our own stage to showcase our professionalism, creativity and resilience to the world,” he said.

“For Taiwan, our allies are like family. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to promote the ‘Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project’ through integrated diplomacy — combining healthcare, public health and talent cultivation cooperation to help our allies build more resilient health systems,” he added.

The WHO was established to make health a fundamental human right for everyone, so there is a significant gap in global health security as Taiwan is being excluded, Lin said.

Taiwan will continue to strive for meaningful participation in the WHO, the WHA and other international organizations, and contribute to global health through its professionalism, actions and goodwill, he said.

Meanwhile, members of several Taiwanese and Taiwanese-US civil groups yesterday in Geneva called on the WHO to include Taiwan.

Some medical professionals criticized the WHO for allowing China to influence it and said Taiwan should not be excluded from the global health system due to political pressure.

Representatives of the civil groups said they would continue to strive for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the WHO and its related mechanisms.

Democracies should tackle China’s infiltration of the UN system, as it is not only an issue for Taiwan, but a risk for all democracies, Foundation of Medical Professionals Alliance in Taiwan director Lin Shih-chia （林世嘉） said, urging nations to join forces to prevent Chinese authoritarian forces from infiltrating international cooperation mechanisms.

North American Taiwanese Medical Association member Simon Lin （林榮松）, who has joined campaigns promoting Taiwan’s bid to join the WHO for 30 years, said he was angry and regretful that the agency has once again failed to invite Taiwan to the WHA.

“However, we cannot remain silent, nor should the strength of our international voice be weakened,” he said. “We must not yield to pressure from China and should continue to strive for international support.”

Taichung Medical Association vice president Lin Heng-li （林恆立） said there is a high level of support in Taiwan for deeper participation in the international community, and to demonstrate Taiwan’s contributions to global healthcare and public health.

Additional reporting by Hou Chia-yu 新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES

Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang, right, attends a special exhibition at Geneva Central Station promoting Taiwan. Photo: CNA

Supporters of Taiwan pose for a photograph at a rally in Geneva yesterday promoting Taiwan’s WHO participation. Photo: CNA