One-China principle reaffirmed as WHA rejects Taiwan proposal

The 78th World Health Assembly's rejection of a proposal concerning Taiwan once again demonstrates that the one-China principle is a broadly recognized consensus within the international community, a Chinese mainland spokesperson said on Monday.

Chen Binhua, spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said the outcome reaffirms the international community's commitment to the one-China principle and shows that the political framework underpinning it remains unshakable.

On Monday, both the General Committee and the plenary session of the 78th WHA decided to reject a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate in the assembly as an observer. This marks the ninth consecutive year that the WHA has declined to consider such a proposal.

Chen criticized the Democratic Progressive Party authorities in Taiwan for a persistent "pro-independence" stance, and said their refusal to acknowledge the 1992 Consensus — an expression of the one-China principle — has eroded the political foundation for Taiwan's participation in the WHA.

He condemned the DPP's efforts to promote the Taiwan-related proposal, saying they ran counter to international consensus and that its rejection was "only natural."