A proposal by Taiwan's diplomatic allies to invite Taiwan to this year's
World Health Assembly as an observer has been rejected.

The rejection of the proposal means that Taiwan has now been denied observer
status at the annual meeting of the global health body for a ninth
consecutive year.

The Taiwan proposal was was raised during a "two-on-two debate" on the
opening day of the W-H-A in Geneva.

An in previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal,
while two others expressed their opposition.

Belize and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines laid out their reasons for
supporting Taiwan's inclusion in the W-H-A.

While China and Pakistan opposed the move.

Both cited United Nations Resolution 2758 and W-H-A Resolution 25.1 to argue
that Beijing fully represents Taiwan and that raising the issue of Taiwan's
participation amounts to interference in China's internal affairs.

The W-H-A General Committee's recommendation not to invite Taiwan were then
accepted by Teodoro Herbosa of the Philippines, who is serving as the
president of the 78th W-H-A.