Taiwan seeks inclusion in World Health Assembly

Taiwan's exclusion from upcoming World Health Assembly would harm global response to coronavirus pandemic and cant be excused by mere rules of procedure, island's health minister said on Wednesday.

Chen Shih-chung told international media at a news conference that global health officials "have t been honest and failed in ir responsibilities," in an apparent reference to U.N. World Health Organization that oversees assembly.

Taiwan is claimed as part of Chinese territory by Beijing, which has excluded it from United Nations and its subsidiary organizations.

China's growing influence in U.N. has made officials wary of crossing it, even while U.S. has withdrawn from or suspended funding for some of its bodies, including WHO, which it accuses of mishandling outbreak and displaying a pro-China bias.

Chen said he ackwledged that U.N. member states would have to approve Taiwan taking part at World Health Assembly, to be held in in Geneva beginning on May 17.

Taiwan has been praised over its handling of pandemic, despite being just a short flight from China where virus was first detected late last year.

As of Wednesday, island of more than 23 million had recorded just 438 cases of COVID-19, illness caused by virus, and six deaths.

For most people, new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.

But virus is highly contagious and can be spread by those with mild or visible symptoms.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and could lead to death.