From May 18-23, 2026, Geneva will host the World Health Assembly (WHA), a crucial forum of the World Health Organization (WHO), where nations will meet to discuss, among other topics, global health, pandemic preparedness, universal health coverage, and health technology and innovation. Yet Taiwan, a vibrant democracy of 23.5 million people, with a world-class healthcare system, remains unjustly excluded.<\/p>\n
Taiwan has been excluded from the WHA due to China\u2019s obstruction. As a result, the people of Taiwan are cut off from critical, real-time health information, even as the world faces ongoing threats from emerging infectious diseases and the lingering effects of past pandemics. Denying Taiwan a seat at the WHA undermines the very goal of the Assembly to \u201cattain the highest possible level of health for all peoples\u201d and deprives the international community of Taiwan\u2019s vital expertise and innovation.<\/p>\n
Taiwan\u2019s significant public health expertise, democratic governance, and advanced technology bring considerable value to the world. Taiwan\u2019s isolation from the WHA, the preeminent global health forum, is unjustified and undermines inclusive global public health cooperation.<\/p>\n
Taiwan is a reliable partner and a force for good in the world, and global health cannot afford to ignore Taiwan. To achieve inclusive, resilient, and effective health systems worldwide, Taiwan must be allowed to fully participate in the WHO and at the WHA, share its knowledge, and receive real-time access to critical health-related information.<\/p>\n
After all, health is universal; it must transcend national and international borders and, above all, politics. Taiwan belongs at the World Health Assembly.<\/p>\n
Charles Liao is\u00a0Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston<\/p>\n
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