On May 11, many Taiwanese Americans gathered in front of Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. to advocate for Taiwan's participation in the upcoming World Health Assembly (WHA). The rally, organized by the Baltimore chapter of the Global Federation of Chinese Business Women (GFCBW), displayed a massive ROC flag, symbolizing Taiwan’s plea for inclusion in the global health discourse.
The vice president of GFCBW, Dr. Eugenia Henry, highlighted the importance of the event and the flag, which was specially ordered from Taiwan. She emphasized that GFCBW's 25 U.S. chapters, along with others in Japan, France, South Africa, Brazil, and seven additional countries, are holding similar rallies. These efforts aim to consolidate support for Taiwan and amplify its voice globally.
The WHA theme of the year, “All for Health, Health for All,” underscores the sentiment that Taiwan should not be excluded from these critical discussions. Henry pointed out Taiwan’s advanced healthcare system, medical technology, and professional expertise, which have aided numerous countries in disaster recovery over the past decade.
Robin Cheng, the Deputy Representative from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in the U.S., noted that Taiwan’s exclusion from the WHA since 2017, after being an active participant from 2009 to 2016, is due to political reasons. He addressed the necessity of Taiwan’s presence at the WHA, especially in light of potential future pandemics, to enhance global health governance and security. Cheng also stated that the COVID-19 pandemic taught us a vital lesson: Taiwan’s absence from the global public health system is a significant loss to the international community. The WHO should set aside political considerations, adhere to professionalism and neutrality, and invite Taiwan to the WHA, allowing it to contribute to the global fight against diseases.
Maryland State Senator Clarence Lam, a preventive medicine expert from Johns Hopkins University and a physician, also supported Taiwan's cause. He argued that healthcare is a fundamental human right and that Taiwan’s health insurance system serves as a model for many countries. Lam advocated for the separation of politics from health care, praising Taiwan's response to the global pandemic as a model for monitoring, responding to, and vaccinating against viruses.
Some high school students from the Formosa Association of Student Cultural Ambassadors (FASCA DC) also joined the rally with their families. A FASCA student, Shannon Shen, was interviewed by the news media and expressed that as a "World" Health Organization, the WHO should include Taiwan. Shen believes that healthcare is promoted for all, and is a right for all.
The sound of the rally from Capitol Hill resonates with the United States Department of State's recent statement, which strongly encourages the WHO to reinstate Taiwan's observer status at the WHA. It is important to let the world recognize Taiwan's valuable contributions to global health and urges for its meaningful participation in the assembly, aligning with the WHA's principle of "Health for All."
