Taiwan condemns 'groundless' accusations it racially attacked WHO chief


Reuters | Taipei | Updated: 09-04-2020 10:38 IST | Created: 09-04-2020 10:11 IST
Taiwan condemns 'groundless' accusations it racially attacked WHO chief
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom (File photo) Image Credit: Wikipedia
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Taiwan on Thursday condemned "groundless" accusations from the World Health Organization's (WHO) boss that racist slurs against him had come from the island, saying racism did not exist in Taiwan in an escalation of its feud with the body. Taiwan's lack of membership of the WHO, due to pressure from China which claims the island as its own, has infuriated the Taipei government during the coronavirus outbreak. Taiwan says it has been unable to get timely information and that Taiwanese lives have become political pawns. The WHO denies this.

On Wednesday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus rejected "racist slurs" against him, which he said had originated in Taiwan. Taiwan's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou said they "strongly condemned and protested the groundless accusations" which she labeled "imaginary".

"Taiwan is a mature and highly-accomplished advanced democratic country, and have absolutely not encouraged our people to personally attack the WHO's Director-General, and what's more cannot have made any racist comments," Ou said. Taiwan condemns any form of discrimination, and any attacks on the internet against the WHO's chief have nothing to do with Taiwan's Foreign Ministry nor have been instigated by it, she added.

Tedros' comments were irresponsible and he should clarify them and apologize to Taiwan, Ou said. Taiwan is the one which has been "politically discriminated against" in the global health system, she added.

"The concept of racism does not exist in Taiwan. We do not have a problem with racism." Taiwan has been proud of its early and so far effective measures against the coronavirus, logging just 379 cases and five deaths to date, far lower than many of its neighbors.

The WHO, in a rare statement about Taiwan last month, said it was closely following the development of the coronavirus there, is learning lessons from how they are fighting it, and detailing how the WHO has been working with Taiwanese health experts. Taiwan says the WHO ignored its questions at the start of the coronavirus outbreak and has not shared with member states information Taiwan has provided on the coronavirus including details on its causes and prevention methods.

This is part of what it has long described as a pattern that puts it at risk because of Chinese pressure to exclude it from international bodies. Under the slogan "Taiwan can help", the government last week announced the donation of 10 million faces masks to the United States, Europe, and the 15 countries which still maintain formal diplomatic ties with the island.

Ou said Taiwan would donate another six million masks, to northern and eastern Europe, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and U.S. states hardest hit by the pandemic.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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