Bond.az -- Member states of the World Health Organization on Monday rejected a proposal to invite Taiwan to its annual assembly in Geneva after China objected.
During the meeting, China and Pakistan opposed the motion. The assembly accepted Taiwan's exclusion.
"China does not agree to the participation of China's Taiwan region in the World Health Assembly in any form," a Chinese delegate told member states.
Palau was among several countries supporting a proposal to include Taiwan as an observer. The country's delegate said Taiwan's exclusion was unjustified and risked weakening global disease surveillance.
"Global health governance cannot afford gaps; excluding any capable and responsible partner, including Taiwan, creates precisely such a gap," the Palauan delegate said.
Taiwan is excluded from most international organizations due to objections from Beijing, which considers the island its territory.
