21/05/2026
We, the Polish Office in Taipei; Australian Office in Taipei; the British Office Taipei; Canadian Trade Office in Taipei, French Office in Taipei; German Institute Taipei; Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association; Lithuanian Trade Representative Office; New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office; and Polish Office in Taipei wish to reaffirm our support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the work of the World Health Organization and Taiwan’s participation as an observer in the World Health Assembly.
As this year’s 79th session of the World Health Assembly commences in Geneva, Taiwan remains largely excluded from the world’s international health system. Infectious diseases and health hazards do not respect borders. Global cooperation is required to keep the whole world safe. Taiwan is a highly capable, engaged, and responsible member of the global health community and was invited to participate as an observer in WHA meetings from 2009 to 2016.
Taiwan’s distinct capabilities and methods – including its significant public health expertise, democratic governance, and advanced technology – bring considerable value that would inform the WHA’s deliberations. Taiwan’s isolation from the WHA, the preeminent global health forum, is entirely unjustified. This undermines inclusive global public health cooperation and security, which the world demands, and which is enshrined in the founding documents of the WHO.
Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the fora and technical committees of the World Health Organization would bring benefits not just to people in Taiwan, but also around the world. Only by including Taiwan as an observer would the WHO be able to fully exemplify the Health Assembly’s commitment to “Reshaping Global Health: A Shared Responsibility.”
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波蘭臺北辦事處、英國在台辦事處、澳洲辦事處、英國在台辦事處、加拿大駐台北貿易辦事處、法國在台協會、德國在台協會、日本台灣交流協會、立陶宛貿易代表辦事處 、紐西蘭商工辦事處、謹此重申我們支持台灣有意義地參與世界衛生組織（WHO），並以觀察員身份參與世界衛生大會（WHA）。
隨著今年第79屆世界衛生大會在日內瓦召開，台灣仍被大幅排除於全球國際衛生體系之外。傳染病與公衛風險不分國界，需透過全球合作，才能保障全人類的安全。
台灣作為全球衛生社群的一員，具備卓越能力，積極參與且負責任，並曾於2009至2016年間，以觀察員身份受邀參與世衛大會。台灣傑出的能力與做法，包括其卓越的公共衛生專業、民主治理與先進科技，可為世衛大會的討論帶來極大助益。台灣被排除在世衛大會這個全球最重要的公共衛生論壇之外，毫無正當理由。這破壞了這世界所迫切需要、同時也是世衛組織創始文件中所明載的精神，即兼容並蓄的全球公共衛生合作與安全。
台灣有意義地參與世界衛生組織的論壇與技術委員會，不僅將造福台灣人民，也惠及全球。唯有納入台灣作為觀察員，世衛組織方能真正體現世衛大會「重塑全球衛生：共同責任」（Reshaping Global Health: A Shared Responsibility）的承諾。
