The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines deeply regrets the baseless accusations against the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) made by World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on April 8, 2020.
Dr. Tedros’ groundless accusations regarding personal attacks on him from Taiwan are seriously misleading to the international community.
The government of Taiwan demands that the Director-General immediately correct his trumped-up claims, issue a clarification and apologize to the people of Taiwan.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen in a statement on Facebook mentioned that Taiwan has always opposed all forms of discrimination. For years, Taiwan has been excluded from international organizations, including the WHO, and knows better than anyone else what it feels like to be discriminated against and isolated.
The invaluable lessons learned from the 2003 SARS pandemic prompted Taiwan to very quickly take effective preventive and proactive response measures against COVID-19, including treatment, tracking, quarantine and mitigation. Thus, Taiwan created a widely recognized Taiwan Model that the international community hopes to learn from.
On 9 April 2020, Taiwan announced the donation of six million medical masks to partner countries under Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy and other friendly nations. The Philippines will receive 300,000 medical masks.
We hereby urge WHO to invite Taiwan to fully participate in all WHO meetings and mechanisms regarding the fight against COVID-19, and restore Taiwan’s observer status in the World Health Assembly. Taiwan being granted full involvement in WHO would allow us to share our successful experience with the world more effectively, and put an end to the pandemic as quickly as possible.
Health for all, Taiwan can help and Taiwan is helping.
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines
Makati, April 13, 2020