離開
進入WHA》台灣又被拒 美發聲明悍嗆世衛：公衛應置於政治之上
世衛大會（WHA）18、19日線上開議，台灣雖獲多國相挺，仍無法出席。（翻攝自世衛官網）
〔記者吳亮儀／台北報導〕今年因應武漢肺炎（新型冠狀病毒病，COVID-19）疫情，世界衛生大會（WHA）以視訊會議方式召開，但我國仍無法收到邀請函；台、美雙方今天共同發布聲明，表示遺憾，其中，美方聲明還直接點明，世衛組織必須將公共衛生置於政治之上。
美國衛生及公共服務部（HHS）發布的聲明指出，美國對於世界衛生組織（WHO）排除台灣參加世界衛生大會（WHA）深表遺憾。
聲明中強調，必須歡迎台灣做出貢獻、而非被排除在WHO之外，尤其是當這種大流行病因缺乏透明訊息共享，及全球健康利益相關者參與而加劇，這特別令人擔憂。
聲明也指出，世衛組織今年將台灣排除在世衛大會之外，這與世衛組織致力於促進包容性國際衛生合作的承諾大相徑庭，台灣被排除在外，這不僅嚴重威脅著台灣的2300萬人，而且關係到世界；美方還挑明了說：「世衛組織必須將公共衛生置於政治之上！」
美方聲明全文：
The United States is deeply disappointed by the World Health Organization （WHO） decision to exclude Taiwan from the World Health Assembly （WHA）.
The United States and Taiwan have more than 20 years of robust public health and biomedical research cooperation, addressing topics as wide-ranging as the SARS outbreak response and regional trainings for Zika diagnostic tools, burn medicine, cancer research, and dengue vaccine research. This cooperation has extended to the COVID-19 pandemic, during which we have exchanged transparent, accurate and timely information. Failures of global information sharing mean global gaps in controlling and preventing the spread of this deadly disease.
The world is facing the unprecedented challenge of COVID-19 together. All communities with a stake in global health should be able to contribute to and benefit from the WHO's efforts. Taiwan has shown the world it is a capable, responsible and willing stakeholder in global health with extensive testing and contact tracing, social distancing measures, medical countermeasure development, and border control and quarantine policy. The United States has adapted lessons learned from the global community, including Taiwan, to improve our response and in return, shared our expertise globally. Now, more than ever, global health partnerships are crucial. We must recognize Taiwan's successful COVID-19 response and their continued efforts to assist other countries with personal protective equipment donations and technical assistance. The world should admire and learn from Taiwan's contributions to combating this pandemic.
The United States is deeply concerned that the WHO—in a break with eight years of precedent—did not invite Taiwan to observe the 70th WHA in May 2017, the 71st WHA in May 2018, the 72nd WHA in May 2019, and now, the 73rd WHA in May 2020. This systematic exclusion should not occur, especially now with COVID-19. The world is facing the unprecedented challenge of a pandemic together. All communities with a stake in global health should be able to contribute and benefit from the WHO's efforts.
Taiwan must be welcomed to contribute to, not be excluded from, WHO meetings. This is extremely concerning especially when this pandemic is partly aggravated by a lack of transparent information sharing and inclusion of all necessary stakeholders in global health. The WHO's decision to exclude Taiwan from this year's WHA is a significant departure from WHO's commitment to fostering an inclusive approach to international health cooperation. Taiwan's isolation from the critical governing body of the WHA is a serious public health and safety concern not only to the island's 23 million people but to the world. The WHO must put public health above politics.
The United States strongly urges the WHO to return to the practice of inviting Taiwan to participate as an Observer to the WHA. The exclusion of Taiwan from the WHA must not continue. The United States also urges the WHO to systematically engage with Taiwan health experts on COVID-19 and beyond. The global community must learn from Taiwan's experience from COVID-19 and do more to include them.
For the sake of global health, the United States expects, and the world should demand, that the WHO commit to an inclusive approach and seriously consider our concerns and requests.
美國衛生部長阿札爾在WHA大會發言中力挺台灣參與，強調世衛的課責與透明度改革相當重要，同樣關鍵的是台灣需以觀察員身份參加大會，分享抗疫經驗。（翻攝自WHO直播）
