BEIJING, May 24 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Monday urged the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities of China's Taiwan region to stop their political manipulation and their search for independence under the pretext of the pandemic.
Spokesperson Zhao Lijian told a press briefing that China firmly opposes the DPP authorities seeking independence by hyping their so-called participation in the World Health Organization's annual assembly.
Zhao made the remarks when asked to comment on a query concerning the decision of the WHO's general committee not to include Taiwan on this year's agenda.
China's Taiwan region's participation in international organizations, including the activities of the WHO, must be handled under the one-China principle. Resolution 2758 of the United Nations General Assembly and Resolution 25.1 of the World Health Assembly confirmed this fundamental principle, Zhao said.
He said since the DPP came to power, it has placed its political agenda above the well-being of the people in the Taiwan region, obstinately adhered to the separatist position of "Taiwan independence", and refused to admit the 1992 Consensus embodying the one-China principle. As a result, the political foundation for the Taiwan region to participate in the WHA has ceased to exist.
According to Zhao, by the time the 74th session of the WHA opened, over 150 countries had voiced their support for China's decision through diplomatic channels. More than 80 WHO members had sent letters to the WHO to express their commitment to the one-China principle and opposition to Taiwan's participation in the WHA.
He said the Chinese Central Government attaches great importance to the health and well-being of Taiwan compatriots. Under this precondition of abiding by the one-China principle, the central government has made appropriate arrangements for Taiwan's participation in global health affairs.
Since the early stages of COVID-19, the Chinese Central Government has given the Taiwan region 260 updates about the situation and approved participation by health experts from the Taiwan region in 16 WHO technical activities. There is also an International Health Regulations Contact Point in the Taiwan region so that the channels of information flow are unimpeded, and the mechanism is complete.
"The claim of a 'gap' in global anti-epidemic efforts is groundless," Zhao added.
"China also urges individual countries to stop politicizing health issues and stop interfering in China's internal affairs through the Taiwan issue. Otherwise, they will only hurt their own interests and their acts are doomed to fail," Zhao said. Enditem