China blocks Taiwan from 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva
Synopsis
For the 10th straight year, China has blocked Taiwan from the World Health Assembly, this time explicitly citing the DPP's 'separatist stance' as having eliminated the political foundation for inclusion. Taiwan's Foreign Minister is now weighing an unprecedented ministerial visit to Geneva — a move complicated by the absence of official Swiss-Taiwanese diplomatic ties.
Key Takeaways
China has announced it will not approve Taiwan's participation in the 79th World Health Assembly , to be held in Geneva from 18–23 May .
This is the 10th consecutive year Taiwan has been excluded from the WHA; it last participated in 2016 as an observer.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun cited the DPP authorities' separatist stance and the One-China principle as grounds for the decision.
Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung is reportedly drafting a plan to visit Geneva to attend Taiwan-organised parallel events — which would be a first for a Taiwanese foreign minister.
Taiwan and Switzerland have no official diplomatic ties, making a formal ministerial visit diplomatically complicated.
China has formally announced it will not approve Taiwan's participation in the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA), scheduled to be held in Geneva from 18 to 23 May. The decision marks the 10th consecutive year Taiwan has been excluded from the annual decision-making meeting of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Beijing's Official Position
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, addressing a regular press conference in Beijing, reiterated that Taiwan is an "inalienable" part of China and that the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. He stated that Taiwan's participation in international organisations, including the WHO, must be handled in line with the 'One-China' principle.
"There is but one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China," Guo said, adding that the principle is recognised by UNGA Resolution 2758 and WHA Resolution 25.1.
Guo further stated: "China's Taiwan region, unless given approval by the Central Government, has no basis, reason or right to participate in the WHA. Due to the DPP authorities' persistent separatist stance, the political foundation for the Taiwan region to participate in the WHA no longer exists."
Taiwan's Response and Diplomatic Efforts
Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said he is working to arrange a visit to Geneva to attend events that Taiwan is organising to coincide with the annual WHA. When asked whether he would lead a team advocating Taiwan's inclusion, Lin told opposition Kuomintang (KMT) lawmaker Yeh Yuan-chih that his ministry was drafting such a plan, without sharing further details.
Notably, no Taiwanese Foreign Minister has ever visited Geneva or participated in Taiwan's WHA action team events, according to reports. Taiwan and Switzerland do not share official diplomatic ties, making it unlikely that Lin would be permitted to visit in an official capacity.
Background: Taiwan's Exclusion Since 2016
Taiwan last participated in the WHA in 2016, when it attended as an observer during a period of relatively better cross-strait relations. Since then, Beijing has consistently blocked its participation, citing the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities' stance on sovereignty as the reason the political foundation for inclusion no longer exists.
China maintains that Taiwan is part of its territory and must be reunified with the mainland, by force if necessary. Despite ongoing pressure and military incursions, Taiwan continues to assert its sovereignty, backed by strong domestic public support.
What Happens Next
Taiwan has previously held parallel events in Geneva to coincide with the WHA. Whether Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung will make an unprecedented ministerial visit to Geneva remains unclear, with his ministry indicating an announcement would follow only if the plan is finalised. Beijing has warned that any attempt to "play the Taiwan card for political manipulation in defiance of the one-China principle is doomed to fail."
Point of View
Effectively weaponising WHO access as a pressure lever in cross-strait politics. The more consequential development is Taiwan's Foreign Minister potentially visiting Geneva in person: if it happens, it would be a symbolic first with real diplomatic risk, given Switzerland's lack of formal ties with Taipei. The broader pattern is troubling — Taiwan's exclusion from a global health body has real public health implications, as the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated when Taiwan's early warnings went unheeded through official WHO channels. The world's appetite for revisiting that lesson remains, at best, selective.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is China blocking Taiwan from the World Health Assembly in 2025?
China has blocked Taiwan from the 79th World Health Assembly citing the One-China principle and what it describes as the DPP authorities' persistent separatist stance. Beijing argues that Taiwan, as part of Chinese territory, requires approval from the Central Government to participate in international organisations such as the WHO.
How long has Taiwan been excluded from the World Health Assembly?
Taiwan has not participated in the WHA since 2016, making 2025 the 10th consecutive year of exclusion. It last attended as an observer when cross-strait relations were relatively stable under a different Taiwanese administration.
What is Taiwan's Foreign Minister planning to do about the WHA exclusion?
Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung has indicated his ministry is drafting a plan for him to visit Geneva to attend Taiwan-organised events coinciding with the WHA. No Taiwanese foreign minister has ever made such a visit, and the plan has not been finalised.
What are UNGA Resolution 2758 and WHA Resolution 25.1?
UNGA Resolution 2758, passed in 1971, recognised the People's Republic of China as the sole lawful representative of China at the United Nations. WHA Resolution 25.1 similarly established the PRC's representation in the World Health Assembly. China regularly cites both resolutions to justify Taiwan's exclusion from UN-affiliated bodies.
Can Taiwan attend the World Health Assembly in any capacity?
Taiwan currently has no pathway to attend the WHA without Beijing's approval, which China has withheld since 2016. Taiwan holds parallel events in Geneva during the WHA period, but official participation — even as an observer — remains blocked under the One-China principle.
