This article was written by Pierre T. P. Yang, Representative of the Taipei Representative Office in Ireland
Over the course of many years, Ireland has fostered a strong reputation on the global stage for fair, balanced, and honest diplomacy. Dedicated to neutrality, this country has showcased its true power as an advocate for non-violent cooperation among nations as a previous president of the UN Security Council (2021).
This commitment to peace has led many to consider Ireland as the conscience of the global community. As such, we would like to call on the Irish government to use this unique power to support Taiwan’s request for meaningful participation at the 2024 World Health Assembly (WHA). To have the support of Ireland would send a strong message to the World Health Organization (WHO) that Taiwan wishes only to improve global health security, not hinder.
The 77th WHA will be held in Geneva from 27 May to 1 June, 2024. The theme this year, “My Health, My Rights”, focuses on a fundamental human right: access to quality health care, education and information. This year’s WHA presents an ideal opportunity to review the rights of Taiwan’s 23 million people who have been excluded from the WHO.
Taiwan remains so far excluded from the World Health Organization and many of its proceedings. Our primary objector, China, claims Taiwan as its own territory yet does not administer health policy across the Strait. Such a fact raises a number of impossibilities; How could a totalitarian state represent a democracy?
Why should a nation with a long history of human rights abuses represent a diverse and free society? Just at beginning of May, the newest Hologic Global Women's Health Index was released. This important international indicator placed Taiwan 1st in the rankings for how countries perform in key areas of women's health and well-being. China, in comparison, placed just 19th. Although a single study cannot represent an entire story, the contrast is evident even at a glance.
We do not expect Taiwan to become a member of the WHO overnight. However, Taiwan has long proven its worth on the global stage as a leading force in disease prevention and as a result deserves to represent itself at the WHA. We call on Ireland to support Taiwan in becoming an observer in the 2024 WHA.