Taiwan calls for EU support for WHO status

Making the call during a speech to the Association of European Journalists, Shen Lyushun said Taiwan should at least be granted observer status in the WHO in order to substantiate its “meaningful participation” in the world body.

Shen told his audience that despite its small size, Taiwan's gross domestic product (GDP) is half as much as that of Canada.

Its GDP is also one-eighth that of China, despite China being many times larger than Taiwan, he noted.

Further pointing to Taiwan's role in international trade, Shen said Taiwan is the 13th-largest trade partner of the European Union behind South Africa and EU's 12th-largest source of imports behind India.

According to Shen, following the recent improvement in Taiwan's relations with China and the establishment of several important agreements between them, Taiwan can play a role in helping the European Union advance its ties with China.

Taiwan, which enjoys preferential trade treatment from China in certain areas and is very familiar with China's way of doing business, can also provide assistance to EU enterprises intending to do business in China, he said.

Meanwhile, Shen stressed his mission is to build up mutual trust and mutual understanding between Taiwan and the European Union, rather than causing trouble between the European Union and China.

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