Geneva: Taiwan's absence from the World Health Assembly (WHA) for the 10th consecutive year was confirmed Monday when a proposal initiated by the country's allies to invite it to participate in the assembly was rejected as expected. As in previous years, the WHA opened its session in Geneva with a "two-on-two debate" regarding the proposal.According to Focus Taiwan, the "two-on-two debate" involved two of Taiwan's allies advocating for the proposal, while China and one of its allies opposed it. Jia Guide, China's permanent representative to the U.N. office in Geneva, reiterated Beijing's stance that the People's Republic of China (PRC) fully represents Taiwan. He cited U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758 and WHA Resolution 25.1 as confirming the one-China principle.The 1971 resolution recognized the PRC as the only legitimate representative of China to the United Nations, expelling "the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek." However, it did not mention Taiwan or the Republic of China (ROC), Taiwan's offic ial name. This omission undermines the PRC's argument that the resolution supports its claim over Taiwan at the United Nations.WHA Resolution 25.1, passed in 1972, recognized representatives of the PRC as the only legitimate representatives of China to the World Health Organization (WHO). A Pakistani representative to the U.N. office in Geneva backed China's stance, reaffirming Pakistan's support for the "one China principle."On behalf of Taiwan, Palau Vice President and Health Minister Raynold Oilouch argued that excluding Taiwan from WHO is unjustified and harmful. He emphasized that U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758 and WHA Resolution 25.1 do not mention Taiwan or authorize another government to represent Taiwan in the U.N. system or the WHO.Paraguayan Vice Minister of Public Health and Social Welfare José Ortellado supported Taiwan's participation, stating that Taiwan has proven to be a "responsible and effective partner in public health." He argued that no global health system can be considered truly inclusive while barriers exist, affecting 23.5 million people and preventing the global community from benefiting from Taiwan's expertise.Ultimately, Víctor Elías Atallah Lajam, the Dominican Republic's health minister and president of the 79th WHA, decided against including the proposed supplementary agenda item, leaving Taiwan excluded from the WHA for another year. The 79th WHA is taking place in Geneva from May 18-23. Taiwan has not attended the annual decision-making body of the WHO since 2016, when it participated as an observer during a period of warmer cross-strait relations with Beijing. Since its ouster in 1971, the ROC (Taiwan) has not regained admission to the U.N. as a member, complicating its participation in U.N.-affiliated organizations such as the WHO.