Taiwan
International Organisations

All of a sudden, Taiwan’s participation in the activities of inter-governmental organisations is not that evil-minded and calamitous for China anymore. Yeh Ching-chuan, Taiwan’s Health Minister, represented the island at the World Health Assembly session as an observer and under the name of “Chinese Taipei”, marking the first time Taiwan participated in a meeting hosted by a UN agency since 1971. Taiwan’s participation was secured through an invitation from the secretariat of the World Health Organisation. Can this model be followed in Taiwan’s pursuit to join other international organisations, assuming the island continues to observe religiously the One China policy? President Ma Ying-jeou stressed that Taiwan should avoid a confrontational approach that could irritate the mainland in increasing Taiwan's international presence.