Taiwan’s Decade-Long WHA Exclusion Underscores Urgent Need for U.S. Senate to Pass the Taiwan International Solidarity Act
On May 18, 2026, the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA) opened in Geneva, Switzerland, marking the 10th consecutive year that Taiwan has been excluded from the World Health Organization (WHO) decision-making body due to aggressive diplomatic pressure from the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
Beijing falsely claims that Taiwan’s participation requires its approval, and continues to weaponize and distort United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758 (1971) and WHA Resolution 25.1 (1972) to justify blocking Taiwan’s participation in international organizations. In fact, the two resolutions do not mention Taiwan, nor do they determine Taiwan’s sovereignty or authorize the PRC to represent Taiwan and its people.
Taiwan’s WHA Bid and Growing International Support
Taiwan remained visible in Geneva despite its exclusion from the WHA, as Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung and Health Minister Shih Chung-liang led high-profile side events to showcase Taiwan’s smart healthcare capabilities, medical innovation, and contributions to global health resilience. Minister Shih emphasized that health is a fundamental human right that must never be subject to political conditions, warning that Taiwan’s exclusion creates unnecessary gaps in global health preparedness and response.
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s WHA bid has garnered broad and growing international support despite continued PRC obstruction. According to Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the executive and legislative bodies of more than 50 nations have expressed support for Taiwan’s participation in the WHA and other international organizations.
Eleven of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies submitted a formal proposal to the WHO Secretariat calling for Taiwan to be invited as a WHA observer. Separately, on May 21, the representative offices of nine like-minded countries in Taiwan — the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, Canada, Germany, France, New Zealand, Lithuania, and Poland — issued a joint statement firmly supporting Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the WHO and its inclusion as a WHA observer.
Taiwan International Solidarity Act
As the PRC continues to misuse and mischaracterize UNGA Resolution 2758 to isolate Taiwan, U.S. lawmakers have pushed forward the bipartisan Taiwan International Solidarity Act (H.R.2416 / S.2224), which seeks to strengthen Taiwan’s participation in international organizations. The House version passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in May 2025, while the Senate companion bill was reported out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee without amendment in October 2025.
The bill clarifies that UNGA Resolution 2758, adopted in 1971, established the PRC government’s representatives as the only lawful representatives of China to the United Nations, but “did not address the issue of representation of Taiwan and its people in the United Nations system or any related organizations.” Moreover, it did not take a position on the relationship between the PRC and Taiwan, nor did it contain any statement on Taiwan’s sovereignty.
Furthermore, the legislation directs the United States to work with global allies and partners to resist Beijing’s efforts to undermine Taiwan’s diplomatic relationships and international partnerships. It also states that the “United States opposes any initiative that seeks to change Taiwan’s status without the consent of the people of Taiwan.”
FAPA’s Call to Action
It is deeply disappointing that UNGA Resolution 2758 remains widely exploited by the PRC to “justify” its fictitious “One China principle,” which aims to suffocate Taiwan’s sovereign status and international space in order to eventually annex Taiwan, even by force.
To push back against Beijing’s deliberate distortion of UNGA Resolution 2758 and its broader campaign to erase Taiwan’s international identity, the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) urges the U.S. Senate to swiftly pass the Taiwan International Solidarity Act (S.2224).
FAPA calls on U.S. lawmakers to stand firmly with democratic Taiwan, defend Taiwan’s sovereign right to international participation, and support Taiwan’s full membership in the UN, WHO, and other international organizations where Taiwan’s expertise and contributions are urgently needed.
Sources:
[1] Taipei Times [2] Focus Taiwan [3] Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) [4] Taipei Times [5] MOFA [6] Taipei Times [7] British Office Taipei [8] H.R.2416 / S.2224 (Taiwan International Solidarity Act)
