1st LD-Writethru: DPP administration bears full responsibility for Taiwan's absence from WHA: spokesperson

The current administration of Taiwan, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), should bear full responsibility for the island's absence from the World Health Assembly (WHA) this year, a spokesperson from the Chinese mainland said Monday.

"The DPP administration refuses to recognize the 1992 Consensus, which embodies the one-China principle. This created an obstacle for Taiwan's participation in the WHA," said An Fengshan, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

An urged the DPP administration to reflect on the reasons why Taiwan will be absent from this year's WHA, saying any attempt to pass the buck or shift the focus will not succeed.

Taiwan had been participating in the WHA since 2009 as an observer as "Chinese Taipei."

This special arrangement was made through cross-Strait consultations against the backdrop of peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and on the political foundation that both sides of the Taiwan Strait adhere to the 1992 Consensus, An said.

The DPP administration, however, has not recognized the 1992 Consensus and its core connotation that both sides belong to the same China, damaging the political foundation for cross-Strait relations and leading to the suspension of cross-Strait communication mechanisms, he added.

"The prerequisite and foundation for Taiwan's participation in the WHA no longer exists, and this has effected [Taiwan's] involvement, which had lasted eight years," he said.

The World Health Organization (WHO), as a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN), must deal with Taiwan in accordance with the one-China principle, which is reflected in UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 and WHA Resolution 25.1, An said.

The mainland values the interests of Taiwanese in the health sector and multiple measures have been adopted to promote cross-Strait exchanges in this regard, according to the spokesperson.

Experts from Taiwan can participate in WHO-related technical meetings and activities, while the WHO may also send experts to the island when needed, An said.

These arrangements, made under the one-China principle, ensure timely and effective responses from Taiwan in instances related to public health both on the island and other places around the world, he noted.

An reiterated that the mainland's stance toward Taiwan's participation in activities held by international organizations had remained clear and consistent; there must always be a proper arrangement based on the one-China principle made through cross-Strait consultations.

He urged the DPP administration to return to the 1992 Consensus.

"Only by doing this can cross-Strait institutional exchanges be resumed and both sides will be able to engage in consultations on Taiwan's participation in activities held by international organizations," he said. Endi