US Congressional Report: "China Pressures WHO to Prevent Sharing Taiwan's 'Pandemic Response Know-How'"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Su-wan] A U.S. congressional report revealed that China pressured the World Health Organization (WHO) to prevent Taiwan, recognized as a model country for its response to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), from sharing its 'quarantine know-how' with other countries.

According to Foreign Policy (FP), a U.S. foreign affairs media outlet, the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (UCESRC), an advisory body to the U.S. Congress, stated this in a report released on the 12th (local time).

The report analyzed that "Taiwan's exclusion from the WHO affected the delay in WHO member countries receiving timely guidance during the early stages of the pandemic."

It further pointed out, "If the WHO had allowed Taiwanese health experts to share quarantine-related information and exemplary response measures in early January, countries would have been able to formulate public health policies based on more complete information."

Taiwan has participated in the World Health Assembly (WHA), the WHO's highest decision-making body, as an observer rather than a member country under the 'One China' principle advocated by China, but since 2016, even this has become difficult.

The United States holds the position that Taiwan, having successfully controlled COVID-19 early, should be reinstated as an observer. The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bill the day before supporting Taiwan's participation in the WHA as an observer.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.