WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), James Risch (R-Idaho), and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) sent a letter to World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urging him to allow for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the WHO and invite Taiwan to participate as an observer in the upcoming World Health Assembly (WHA). The Senators urge Tedros to oppose efforts to restrict Taiwan’s engagement, including the People’s Republic of China’s distortion of U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758, which takes no position on the issue of Taiwanese sovereignty, does not preclude countries from having diplomatic relations with Taiwan, and does not prevent the United Nations from allowing for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in U.N. activities – contrary to Beijing’s assertions.
“We write to express strong bipartisan support within the U.S. Senate for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the WHO and the annual WHA meetings,” the Senators wrote. “We are deeply concerned that Taiwan has been largely excluded from WHO and WHA meetings, technical exchanges, and other consultative mechanisms.”
The lawmakers continued: “In recent years, the People’s Republic of China has attempted to use United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 as a pretext to obstruct Taiwan’s engagement with the international community. It is crucial to clarify that Resolution 2758 addressed only the issue of China’s representation in the United Nations; it did not, in any part, determine Taiwan’s status or explicitly prohibit Taiwan’s participation in UN agencies and other international fora, including WHO and WHA.”
Senator Coons is Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations (SFOPS) and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Full text of the letter is available here and below.
Dear Dr. Tedros,
We write to express strong bipartisan support within the U.S. Senate for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the World Health Organization (WHO) and the annual World Health Assembly (WHA) meetings. We are deeply concerned that Taiwan has been largely excluded from WHO and WHA meetings, technical exchanges, and other consultative mechanisms. We urge you to make every effort to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation and to oppose proscriptive efforts to circumscribe Taiwan’s engagement. As our experience with the COVID pandemic has demonstrated, it is imperative that global health diplomacy channels remain open and inclusive of all jurisdictions, so that we are best able to address challenges in the complex landscape of international health crises.
In recent years, the People’s Republic of China has attempted to use United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 as a pretext to obstruct Taiwan’s engagement with the international community. It is crucial to clarify that Resolution 2758 addressed only the issue of China’s representation in the United Nations; it did not, in any part, determine Taiwan’s status or explicitly prohibit Taiwan’s participation in UN agencies and other international fora, including WHO and WHA. Furthermore, the resolution does not restrict any state from maintaining or pursuing diplomatic relationships with Taiwan.
Taiwan’s exclusion from the WHO and WHA undermines the WHO’s mission to build a healthier future for the global community. Taiwan has demonstrated robust healthcare capabilities, and its global health contributions, particularly visible during the COVID-19 pandemic, have proven indispensable. Taiwan’s proactive and transparent response to health emergencies, as well as its willingness to share expertise and resources, underscores the value it brings to global health initiatives. Denying Taiwan the opportunity to participate in the WHO and WHA not only hinders Taiwan’s 23 million people but also weakens the global health architecture’s ability to respond effectively to health challenges. As the world continues to navigate the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic and other emergent health threats, it is more critical than ever to leverage every resource available to advance the resilience of global health systems.
We look forward to your response in addressing this critical issue and ask for a positive resolution ahead of the forthcoming World Health Assembly in late May.