'Further damages WHO's credibility': US condemns World Health Assembly's Taiwan exclusion

United States on Monday condemned Taiwan's exclusion from World Health Assembly saying that WHO's Director-General Tedros ham Ghebreyesus chose t to invite country under pressure from China.

" United States condemns Taiwan's exclusion from World Health Assembly. At a time when world continues to struggle with COVID-19 pandemic, we need multilateral institutions to deliver on ir stated missions and to serve interests of all member states, t to play politics while lives are at stake," US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo said in a statement.

'He inste chose t to invite China under pressure...'

Pompeo slammed Tedros ham Ghebreyesus saying his 'lack of independence' has furr hit WHO's credibility. "WHO's Director-General Tedros h every legal power and precedent to include Taiwan in WHA's proceedings. Yet, he inste chose t to invite Taiwan under pressure from People's Republic of China (PRC). Director-General's lack of independence deprives Assembly of Taiwan's rewned scientific expertise on pandemic disease, and furr dams WHO's credibility and effectiveness at a time when world needs it most," said Pompeo.

US Secretary of State stated, " PRC's spiteful action to silence Taiwan exposes emptiness of its claims to want transparency and international cooperation to fight pandemic and makes difference between China and Taiwan ever more stark."

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Taiwan's foreign ministry expresses 'strong dissatisfaction'

Meanwhile, Taiwan has said it will postpone its bid to join WHO after secretariat did t invite island to attend World Health Assembly. "After careful deliberation, we have accepted suggestion from our allies and like-minded nations to wait until resumed session before furr promoting our bid," island's Foreign Minister Joesph Wu said at a press conference on Monday, reported CNN.

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He ded that " Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses deep regret and strong dissatisfaction that World Health Organization Secretariat has yielded to pressure from Chinese government and continues to disregard right to health of 23 million people of Taiwan."

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Taiwan has enjoyed remarkable success in combatting pandemic, with only seven deaths and some 400 infections despite its proximity and close commercial links with mainland China, where disease was first identified. World Health Assembly (WHA), decision-making body of World Health Organization (WHO) began its annual meeting on Monday.

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(With ncy inputs)