"It is necessary for Taiwan to establish direct contact and interaction with the WHO, and only by, at least, becoming an observer in the WHA can the rights of the 23 million people in Taiwan be safeguarded," said Lin Yung-le, director-general of MOFA's Department of International Organizations, at a regular press briefing.

He made the remarks in response to a Kyodo News report that Wang Yi, the head of China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO), had told several Japanese congressional visitors Monday that China would never agree to Taiwan joining the international health body.

The report also cited Wang as saying that China would try to establish a new framework so that, in the event of an epidemic, Taiwan would be able share information with the rest of the world via an alternative "international network."

Lin, who has just been appointed as vice foreign minister, stressed that the government has not altered its determination to participate in international organizations and to expand its space in the international community. He added that regarding the expansion of international relations, Taiwan will adopt the principles of dignity, autonomy, pragmatism and flexibility.

"We hope China, based on pragmatism, will try to understand the wishes and thoughts of the 23 million people in Taiwan and adopt a more rational and flexible way to deal with the issue of Taiwan's participation in international organizations," Lin said.

He said the foreign ministry will look into the exact wording and meaning of Wang's statement as the report did not quote him directly. Also, Lin said, it was not clear what was meant by "another international network," as reported.

He noted that the WHO's International Health Regulations (IHR), which was implemented in 2007, is the most comprehensive mechanism for global public health security.

"Judging from the current situation, there is no other international network that can replace a platform like the IHR," Lin said. "We think that in Taiwan's best interests, the most appropriate approach would be to directly participate in the WHO mechanism and build direct connections with its secretariat."

Lin said Taiwan's main objective in seeking to join the WHO is to gain observer status in the WHA based on professional and technical concerns.

"China should not brush aside the basic health rights of the 23 million people in Taiwan for political reasons," he added.

Taiwan has been trying, unsuccessfully, to become an observer in the World Health Assembly -- the WHO's highest decision-making body -- under its official title, the Republic of China, since 1997.

Last year, it applied for full WHO membership as "Taiwan" for the first time, but the bid failed again due to opposition by China, which claimed that Taiwan is part of its territory, not a sovereign state, and therefore not eligible to obtain WHO membership.

The WHA decided May 19 not to put the Taiwan issue on the general assembly's agenda although 17 of Taiwan's 23 diplomatic allies had submitted a motion urging the WHA to grant observer status to Taiwan.