Coronavirus: WHO under fire for leaving Taiwan out of meeting

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has been warned against its decision to shut out Taiwan from an annual two-day meeting which opened on Monday.

Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau and United States Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, have all spoken against the body’s action.

The coronavirus situation in Taiwan has been described as a success story and countries are wondering why the WHO failed to invite its officials to the meeting.

There are more than 4.7 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 globally and Taiwan has recorded only 440 cases with 7 deaths.

Taiwan and friends argue that the nation should be invited to the WHO online conference to discuss its containment of coronavirus.

Taiwan, in its protest, expressed disappointment that they would not be able to share their experience and strategies.

“It’s a loss for the WHO that the Taiwan model won’t be able to be shared at such an important meeting,’’ Health Minister Chen Shih-chung said in Taipei.

“The WHO Secretariat should listen carefully to reasonable appeals from the international community,’’ Foreign Minister, Joseph Wu stated.

Dpa reports that the UN agency does not recognise Taiwan due to pressure from China.

The island nation has had its own government since 1949.

But Beijing considers the self-governing democracy as part of its territory.