Geneva: Taiwan’s health minister reported that its delegation, attending events on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, appeared to face monitoring and pressure from China during this year’s gathering. Health Minister Shih Chung-liang, who leads Taiwan’s delegation, made these remarks in a video call with Taiwanese media after the World Health Organization (WHO) once again rejected a proposal to invite Taiwan to attend the WHA as an observer.

According to Focus Taiwan, Taiwan has not received an invitation to the WHA for the past decade due to opposition from Beijing. When asked about the pressure from China during this year’s events, Shih mentioned that many supportive countries continued to express their backing for Taiwan’s participation, although Beijing’s influence was noticeable in private interactions.

Shih described how individuals, believed to be Chinese nationals, were observed monitoring the Taiwanese delegation during a walking event organized by Taiwan. Additionally, attendance at a “Taiwan Night” event appeared noticeably lower this year, which he attributed to potential pressure from China.

Despite the absence of U.S. health officials at this year’s WHA, stemming from the Trump administration’s decision to exit the WHO, Shih noted that Taiwan’s interactions with other countries and involvement in technical meetings and forums were not significantly compromised. Taiwan conducted four professional forums this year to highlight its public health expertise and contributions, focusing on healthcare resilience, smart healthcare, cancer prevention, and hepatitis C treatment.

Taiwan’s smart healthcare exhibition garnered attention, with some visitors expressing interest in cooperation and even placing orders. Shih mentioned that Taiwan adopted a more adaptable approach to international exchanges this year, utilizing side events, professional forums, and banquets to enhance interactions with health officials and delegates from other countries.