Hyping up Taiwan-related issues at World Health Assembly unpopular: spokesperson

Source
Xinhuanet
Editor
Chen Zhuo
Time
2020-05-20 01:39:50

BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The decision of the 73rd World Health Assembly (WHA) has shown once again that there is no way out for "Taiwan independence" and hyping up Taiwan-related issues at the WHA is unpopular, a mainland spokesperson said Tuesday.

Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks at a press conference when asked to comment on the decision by the WHA not to discuss Taiwan-related issues raised by some countries.

There is only one China in the world and Taiwan is a part of China, which is an iron-clad fact and unshakable principle, Ma said.

The mainland always attaches great importance to the health and well-being of Taiwan compatriots.

"We have not only promoted cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation in the field of health but also adopted, under the one-China principle in international affairs, a number of measures and made appropriate arrangements for Taiwan's participation in global health affairs," he said.

Since the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, the channels for Taiwan to obtain information and support on the epidemic prevention and control have been open and effective.

As of Monday, the mainland had sent 155 notifications on COVID-19 to Taiwan. Since 2019, under the one-China principle, altogether 24 Taiwan experts in 16 groups have participated in the World Health Organization (WHO) technical activities, including WHO Secretariat briefings on the epidemic situation.

From 2009 to 2016, the Taiwan region had been able to participate in the WHA as an observer in the name of "Chinese Taipei," a special arrangement made through cross-Strait consultations on the basis of the 1992 Consensus that embodies the one-China principle upheld by both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Since the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) came to power in the Taiwan region in 2016, it has obstinately adhered to the separatist position for "Taiwan independence" and refused to recognize the 1992 Consensus, thus unilaterally undermining the political foundation for cross-Strait consultations.

The DPP authorities are the only party to blame for the region being unable to take part in the WHA since.

"We urge the DPP authorities to avoid going further down the wrong path. Any attempt to challenge the one-China principle is doomed to fail," the spokesperson said.

 

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