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Epidemics

G7 Backs Taiwan's WHO Participation, Condemning China's Human Rights Record

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

In a major diplomatic stance, the G7 group of leading industrialized nations has issued a joint communique in support of Taiwan's participation in World Health Organization (WHO) forums, a move that aligns with the Biden administration's efforts to shore up support for Taiwan in the face of aggressive Chinese military activity. The statement, released after two days of G7 meetings in London, not only echoed US warnings that its support for Taiwan is "rock solid" but also criticized China's human rights record, erosion of democracy in Hong Kong, and cyber-enabled intellectual property theft. China's foreign ministry has responded with condemnation, labeling the G7's actions as "gross interference" in its internal affairs.

Key Takeaways:

  • The G7 has voiced unified support for Taiwan's participation in WHO forums, including the policymaking World Health Assembly, for the first time.
  • The Biden administration has taken various actions to bolster support for Taiwan, including a rare dual aircraft carrier exercise in the South China Sea to send a message to Beijing about its commitment.
  • China claims sovereignty over Taiwan and has blocked Taiwan's participation in WHO forums since 2016, reverting to barring Taiwan's participation after Tsai Ingwen took power in Taipei.
  • Bi-khim Hsiao, Taiwan's US ambassador, has expressed gratitude for the G7 statement, stating that it "means a lot".
  • China's military has carried out increased drills and incursions near Taiwan in recent years, including warplane incursions into Taiwanese airspace.
  • The G7 statement urged China to "participate constructively in the rules-based international system" and called on the international community to benefit from the experience of all partners, including Taiwan's successful contribution to tackling the Covid-19 pandemic.

Statistics:

  • Between 2009 and 2016, Taiwanese delegates were allowed to join WHO forums as observers under the name "Chinese Taipei".
  • During this period, Taiwan's participation in WHO events was permitted, despite Beijing's 1997 decision to block Taiwan's participation.
  • Since Tsai Ingwen took power in 2016, Beijing has barred Taiwan's participation in WHO forums.
  • As of 2022, China's military has conducted bigger and more frequent drills near Taiwan, as well as incursions by warplanes in Taiwanese airspace, not seen since the 1996 stand-off.
  • The G7's statement in 2022 marks the first time foreign ministers from all seven countries have voiced unified support for Taiwan's participation in WHO forums.

Sources:

  • [Source 1 - AP News "G7 backs Taiwan's WHO participation, criticizes China's record"]
  • [Source 2 - Bloomberg "G7 Foreign Ministers Back Taiwan's WHO Participation Amid China Tensions"]
  • [Source 3 - China's Foreign Ministry statement "G7 foreign ministers' baseless accusations against China ... is bloc politics trying to turn back the wheel of history"]

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