Biden Signs Bill Supporting Taiwan's Participation in WHO Meeting... China Expected to Protest

Earlier, the Bill Passed Unanimously in Both the US Senate and House

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] U.S. President Joe Biden has signed a law supporting Taiwan's observer attendance at the World Health Assembly (WHA) despite opposition from China.

The White House announced that President Biden signed a law on the 13th that changes the requirements for Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization (WHO). The law includes a provision directing the U.S. Secretary of State to develop a strategy to restore Taiwan's WHO observer status. The WHO is scheduled to hold the WHA, its highest decision-making body, in Geneva, Switzerland, from the 22nd to the 28th.

Previously, Taiwan was expelled from the WHO in 1972 after the United Nations recognized China as the sole legitimate government and revoked Taiwan's UN membership. Taiwan participated as an observer in the WHA annual meetings from 2009 to 2016, during a period of improved relations with China, but has been unable to attend since the pro-independence Tsai Ing-wen administration took office due to China's opposition.

The United States has actively supported Taiwan. The Biden administration requested Taiwan's participation in the WHA last year, but it was blocked by China. Ahead of this assembly, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and others met with the WHO Director-General to request Taiwan's observer participation. The support law signed by President Biden was introduced by Senator Bob Menendez, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a Democrat, and passed unanimously in both the Senate and the House last August and last month, respectively.

Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed President Biden's signing of the law as very meaningful ahead of the WHA opening, but China is expected to strongly oppose it. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian stated at a regular briefing on the 9th, "To safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to uphold the strictness and authority of the UN General Assembly and WHA-related resolutions, China cannot agree to Taiwan's participation in this year's WHA."

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