Health Minister Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) says that Chinese pressure may have impacted attendance at events organized by Taiwan on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva. That statement came during an online press conference Shih held on Tuesday, May 19.

Shih said that Taiwan has submitted an official letter of protest to World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, urging the organization to allow Taiwan to participate in the WHA as an observer. Taiwan has not been invited to WHA for the 10th consecutive year.

Shih added that Chinese pressure may have impacted attendance at an event organized by Taiwan’s Medical Professionals Alliance. In past years, representatives from Taiwan’s diplomatic allies and international organizations came to the event, but this year the attendance was noticeably lower.