DPP to blame for international exclusion of Taiwan, official says

A central government spokesman said that Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party should take full responsibility for the island's absence from the World Health Assembly this year.

An Fengshan, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remark on Monday in regard to the WHA meeting set for Geneva, Switzerland, on May 22.

The closing for the international meeting's online registration was Monday, but Taiwan did not receive an invitation.

"The DPP administration refuses to recognize the 1992 Consensus, which represents the one-China principle. This created an obstacle for Taiwan's participation in the WHA," he said.

Taiwan had participated in the WHA since 2009 as an observer, listed as "Chinese Taipei", which had been arranged through consultations against a backdrop of the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations and on the political foundation that both sides of the Taiwan Straits adhere to the 1992 Consensus, he said.

But the DPP administration has not recognized the consensus, which damages the political foundation for cross-Straits relations and leads to the suspension of communications between the two sides, An said.

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

The World Health Organization, as an agency of the United Nations, must deal with Taiwan-related affairs in accordance with the one-China principle, which is reflected in resolutions of the UN General Assembly and WHA, he said.

"Our attitude toward Taiwan's participation in international activities is always clear. That is, their attendance must be based on the policy and in line with the two sides' negotiations," he said, calling on Taiwan's ruling party to recognize the consensus as soon as possible.

"Only in that way will cross-Straits ties go well and will it be possible to negotiate on whether Taiwan can take part in activities of international organizations," he added.

Ni Yongjie, deputy director of the Shanghai Institute of Taiwan Studies, suggested Taiwan make clear its fault as soon as possible, "as better communication and political foundation with the mainland will bring it and its residents opportunities to participate in international activities."