Soliciting WHA for Taiwan exposes US duplicity

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement on Wednesday saying the United States strongly encourages the World Health Organization to reinstate an invitation to Taiwan to participate as an observer at this year’s WHO annual assembly. This is a violation of what Washington has promised on the Taiwan question in the three joint communiques it has signed with Beijing.

It also constitutes a challenge to the principle, upheld by the United Nations, that there is but one China, of which the government in Beijing is the sole legitimate representative. This principle is enshrined in the UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 and WHA Resolution 25.1. As such, it is at Beijing’s discretion whether to solicit an invitation for the island’s participation in the activities of international organizations as an observer. The island attended the World Health Assembly as an observer from 2009 to 2016, when the island’s authorities recognized the 1992 Consensus acknowledging that the island is part of China.

But the island’s current Democratic Progressive Party authorities have stubbornly refused to uphold the 1992 Consensus and instead stuck to their separatist position. They are trying to assert, by whatever means they can think of, the false notion that the island is an “independent country”. Thus the political foundation for the island’s participation in the WHA no longer exists, as upholding the one-China principle is mandated by Beijing.

In his statement, Blinken emphasized the island’s expertise and experience in public health, from which he said the world might benefit. He said that Taiwan’s exceptional capabilities and approaches would offer considerable value to inform the WHA’s deliberations, adding that time and again, Taiwan has demonstrated a capability and willingness to help address global health crises and support the global health community. By saying this, Blinken not only sought to denigrate the Chinese mainland’s contributions in these regards, he was also trying to misportray the issue as a technical decision only.

Having personally reaffirmed the one-China principle on the part of the US during his visit to China in April, he cannot pretend that he does not know that this is a political issue. The statement by the top US diplomat is simply another iteration of the Joe Biden administration trying to stir up trouble and further proof that it glibly talks the good talk while having no intention of walking its words.

The Taiwan question is one of China’s first and foremost core interests, and there is no way Beijing will compromise on this issue. By signaling its support to the secessionist forces on the island in this way, the Biden administration has not only done a disservice to the improvement of relations between the US and China but also further damaged the US’ credibility by again highlighting it will breezily give its word to do something while having every intention of reneging on it.