On Saturday, May 18th, the Taiwan Association for Global Health in Boston (TAGHB) rallied overseas Taiwanese communities at Boston Common in downtown Boston to support Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA). This event brought together several overseas Taiwanese organizations based in the area, including the Brookline Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce, the National Chengchi University Alumni Association in Boston, the Boston Taiwanese Emergency Assistance Association, and several Overseas Community Affairs Council honorary council members, including Mrs. Jing Ruo Lin. Through this march, they appealed to international friends and passing tourists, calling attention to the injustice Taiwan faces in being excluded from the global public health system. They advocated for health without borders and supported Taiwan’s inclusion in the World Health Organization (WHO) and participation in the WHA.
Jing Ruo Lin, who came to the march every year, shared her comment, "I participate in the march supporting Taiwan’s inclusion in the World Health Assembly (WHA) every year because I feel deeply moved and saddened that Taiwan—a highly developed country with advanced technology and a sound healthcare system—has been excluded. Taiwan has a globally acclaimed National Health Insurance system that has been in place for over 30 years, taking care of the health of its 23 million citizens. Yet, it is continually left out of the WHA, not even granted observer status. This is truly regrettable. Through participating in the march, I hope to convey to international friends and the global community that Taiwan should be allowed to join the WHA."
Riva Chen, co-president of TAGHB, emphasized that she has advocated for Taiwan’s inclusion in the WHA since 2020. “Taiwan is part of the global village, and all global citizens should have the right to contribute to the World Health Assembly,” she said. “The TAGHB supports the values of exercise, health, and equality—we believe in equitable access to healthcare for all.”
Fellow co-president Dr. Meng-Chieh Lee, a practicing dentist in the Boston area, pointed to Taiwan's challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Due to political interference, Taiwan was excluded from the World Health Organization and denied access to crucial, real-time public health information. This was deeply unfair to the 23 million people in Taiwan,” he said.
Jenny Chuang, a longtime Boston resident and alumna of Taipei First Girls’ High School, participated in the march for the second year. Her husband Martin, a local physician, and their three children joined her. “Taiwan’s pandemic response and contributions were recognized globally. That’s why we’re here today—to speak up for Taiwan and ensure its efforts are seen and respected. Taiwan deserves a seat at the WHA. Taiwan can help!”
Also joining the march was Yi-Chieh Huang, a postdoctoral researcher in neuroscience at Harvard University, who attended alongside his wife and sister, a nurse currently working in Taiwan. “I found out about the event on social media,” Huang said. “As a Taiwanese citizen, I feel a duty to support Taiwan’s international participation and raise awareness of our contributions.”
Founded in 2021, TAGHB is a grassroots organization composed of Boston healthcare professionals and community advocates. The group’s mission is to promote Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Organization (WHO) and its governing body, the World Health Assembly. TAGHB continues to welcome new supporters in its ongoing campaign to ensure Taiwan has a voice on the global health stage.
