Taiwan Thanks US With Dig At China Over World Health Assembly Meet Invite

The WHA is set to hold its 74th annual meeting virtually from Geneva, Switzerland, from May 24 to June 1.

Taiwan on Friday thanked US Secretary of State Antony Blinken after Washington extended its support for Taipei's bid at the World Health Assembly (WHA), the decision making body of the World Health Organisation (WHO). Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that excluding a "vibrant democracy" while jeopardizing global health is wrong, especially at the behest of China. "My appreciation to @SecBlinken for urging @WHO to immediately invite #Taiwan to #WHA74. Excluding a reliable partner, vibrant democracy & force for good in the world while jeopardizing global health is wrong, especially at the behest of #China (sic)," Taiwan Foreign Ministry said in a tweet. Earlier, the United States called upon the WHO to invite Taiwan to participate as an observer at the upcoming annual meeting of WHA, saying there is "no reasonable justification" for Taipei's continued exclusion from the forum.