Date：May 7, 2018
MAC Press Release No. 32
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) today (May 7, 2018) solemnly protested the improper and irresponsible comments by mainland China's Taiwan Affairs Office and foreign affairs departments on the obstruction of Taiwan's participation in this year's World Health Assembly (WHA) and issued the following statement:
1. Mainland China continues to pressure and obstruct Taiwan's participation in the WHA through its unilaterally established political assertions in disregard for the health and safety rights and interests of the people of Taiwan. Beijing has linked its so-called "one China principle" with the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 and WHA Resolution 25.1 on mistaken premises and sought to prevent Taiwan from participating on political grounds. This not only violates the World Health Organization (WHO) Charter, but also deprives the Taiwanese people of their rights and reveals Beijing's fundamental lack of intention to improve cross-Strait relations. The government expresses its solemn protest against this unreasonable act.
2. Health is a universal value. Health and epidemic prevention have no national borders. The people of Taiwan should enjoy the right to health without discrimination. In recent years, Taiwan has participated in fewer than 30% of the WHO technical meetings due to malicious obstruction by the Mainland. Moreover, the Mainland has fundamentally failed to inform Taiwan of the status of related epidemics. Mainland China's allegations that it has made appropriate arrangements with Taiwan are inconsistent with the facts and brazenly mislead the public. We believe that the WHO is a non-political organization with a mission to achieve highest possible level of health for all people. It should not simply serve Beijing's political will.
3. Taiwan's healthcare strengths and international contributions have been highly recognized and supported by the international community. The United States, Japan, European Union, Canada, and other international friends and allies of Taiwan support Taiwan's participation in the WHA. We will actively seek out support and assistance from the international community to protect the health and well-being of the people of Taiwan. We also solemnly urge the Mainland authorities to not shirk their responsibility or shift focus and to never allow political factors to override the health and safety of the Taiwanese people. Through its repeated harm to the feelings, rights, and interests of the people of Taiwan, Beijing merely impacts the development of cross-Strait relations and binds itself in a self-made predicament.