New York Times: As WHO virus meeting kicks off, Taiwan is still waiting for its invitation.
“A virtual meeting of the World Health Organization that will largely focus on the global response to the coronavirus pandemic began Monday, involving representatives from more than 190 countries. Noticeably absent was a place that has won international praise for its success in controlling a virus that has sickened more than 50 million people and killed more than 1.2 million around the world: Taiwan. As of Monday, Taiwan had not yet received an invitation to join the World Health Assembly meeting, which will end on Saturday, according to a spokeswoman for Taiwan’s foreign ministry, despite a multilateral effort led by the United States to support the island’s bid for observer status…” (Qin, 11/10).

Reuters: WHO members reject attempt to include Taiwan in meeting
“…Washington, which has announced under outgoing President Donald Trump that it is quitting the WHO in part because of what it describes as pro-China bias, has pressed for the organization to allow Taiwan to attend meetings as an observer. Beijing, which says the island is part of China, rejects this…” (Blanchard et al., 11/9).

Reuters: Blocking Taiwan at WHO will increase hostility to China, premier says
“China’s efforts to block Taiwan’s participation at the World Health Organization (WHO) during the coronavirus pandemic will only increase the world’s hostility towards the country, the island’s premier said on Tuesday. Chinese-claimed but democratically run Taiwan says its inability to fully access the WHO, because of China’s objections, has created a gap in global pandemic prevention. China and the WHO say that is untrue…” (Blanchard, 11/10).