New Zealand joins Australia, US to return Taiwan to WHO amid pandemic

Despite criticism from China, New Zealand as of May 7 jumps on board with United States and Australia to return Taiwan to World Health Organisation. Foreign Minister Winston Peters called Taiwan standout “world success story on COVID-19", local media reported. Winston Peters told a press conference that New Zealand has joined a number of countries to put Taiwan back on WHO as an observer, like in 2016.  

Taiwan has contained pandemic in a way that rest of world can learn from, and every country including China must look forward to being a part of that success story, Peters reportedly said. Earlier, Health Minister of Taiwan, on May 6, appealed to World Health Organization (WHO) to provide access to first-hand information about coronavirus, according to reports. Chen Shih-Chung said that lack of information slowed pandemic’s containment efforts in province after it was banished from WHO on recommendation of People's Republic of China.  

Read: Donald Trump Calls United States' Coronavirus Crisis Worse Than 9/11 Attack, World War II

Read: Some Senators w Want Lawmakers Tested For Coronavirus

In a remarkable containment effort, Taiwan was one of first countries to close borders to China during early sts of coronavirus pandemic, as per media reports. t just that, province enacted effective strategies that kept population of 24 million to 439 cases and 6 fatalities. However, inclusion of Taiwan in WHO has been a matter of geopolitical contention between United States and China. President Donald Trump criticized China’s belligerence with respect to Taiwan and allies Australia and Canada are among supporters of USA's position, media reports confirmed. 

China opposed decision

China's Ambassador in Wellington, Wu Xi, anunced for Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern government in state media address saying, re is one China in world, and Taiwan is a part of China. Furr, he warned that  world was at a “critical st” in its battle against global pandemic. But Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan region was making reckless political maneuvers, he added. Wu Xi, accused Taiwan saying that province’s real intention was 'independence' employing pandemic as a strategy, China’s state media confirmed. However, New Zealand’s Peters said in a furr statement that his country’s stance wasn’t “political or geostrategic". 

Read: Face Masks Make A Political Statement In Era Of Coronavirus

Read: Mike Pompeo Says US Can't Be Certain About Origin Of Coronavirus