WHO Responds to Claims of Enhanced Ties with Taiwan

An unnamed representative from the World Health Organization (WHO) stated on Thursday that the organization does not plan to alter its currently strained relationship with Taiwan. This comes after a senior Japanese official asserted that WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had promised to foster greater cooperation with Taipei.

Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama recently met with Mr. Tedros during his trip to Japan. He shared a photo featuring himself, Mr. Tedros, other public health leaders, and World Bank representatives. On Twitter, Katayama indicated that Mr. Tedros had “clearly” mentioned reinforcing ties with Taiwan.

Although the tweet was vague, it hinted that the UN health agency might be interested in improving relations with the Taiwan government.

Katayama’s remarks were made amid heightened tensions between China and Japan. In November, Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi had suggested that China’s actions regarding Taiwan posed a serious threat to Japan’s security, even hinting that Japan’s Self-Defense Forces might need to assist Taiwan. This statement drew severe backlash and threats from the Chinese Communist Party toward both Japan and Taiwan, including harassment directed at Japanese celebrities.

Taiwan, recognized as the Republic of China, operates as a democratic nation with informal alliances with Japan, the United States, and other democracies. However, the Chinese government claims Taiwan as a “province” of China, maintaining a hardline stance against engaging with Taiwan’s government and restricting its participation in international forums like the WHO. Consequently, Taiwan cannot fully participate in the World Health Assembly, a situation exacerbated by China’s attempts to exclude Taiwan following the election of anti-communist President Tsai Ing-wen in 2017.

In response to Japan’s finance minister’s claims, a WHO representative emphasized that there are no plans to modify its relationship with Taiwan. “Our position hasn’t changed. We have ongoing partnerships with medical entities in Taiwan,” the representative remarked. “We are a health organization cooperating with health officials, and that will remain the case.”

Separately, the Taipei Times reported that an unspecified WHO representative dismissed Katayama’s tweet as a “clear misunderstanding,” stating that communication between Tedros and Katayama was facilitated through an interpreter.

The representative added that “Dr. Tedros never mentioned any changes to this arrangement with Taiwan.” The WHO has faced criticism for its refusal to collaborate with Taiwan at China’s behest, particularly evident in late 2019, when Taiwan attempted to alert the WHO to the emergence of a novel respiratory illness in Wuhan, which later became known as the coronavirus. Reports confirmed that Taiwanese authorities had reached out to the WHO regarding the outbreak, but their communications were largely ignored.

The WHO’s handling of the crisis has stirred global discontent, particularly due to Tedros’ connections with China. In 2022, these ties seemed to shift somewhat when he suggested that countries should reconsider strict lockdown protocols.

Tedros stated, “As we know, viruses evolve and change, making it essential for us to adapt our measures accordingly.” His remarks led to accusations from the Chinese government, which has implemented some of the world’s most stringent lockdowns, labeling Tedros as “irresponsible.”

As of the time of reporting, the Chinese government had not provided commentary regarding the ongoing situation with the WHO. During a recent press conference, China’s Foreign Ministry criticized Taiwanese efforts to cultivate friendly relations with Japan and reproached Japan for its historical actions during the imperial era.

On the 80th anniversary of the victory in China’s War of Resistance against Japan, a spokesperson reiterated that the Taiwan issue remains urgent, framing it as a challenge to global moral standards.