China has denounced a planned visit to Switzerland by Taiwan’s foreign minister, saying the trip, timed to coincide with the World Health Organization’s annual assembly in Geneva, violates the One China principle. Beijing has already blocked Taiwan from participating in the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA) as an observer, but Taipei has vowed to send a delegation for meetings outside the official gathering.
A spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry said Taiwan’s outreach in Switzerland amounts to “separatist” activity and accused the island’s government of using the global health forum to push for “independence under the pretext of health cooperation.” The spokesperson reiterated that the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China and that Taiwan is an “inalienable” part of its territory.
China’s opposition comes after it formally informed the WHO that it would not consent to Taiwan’s participation in this year’s assembly, which runs in Geneva from May 18 to 23. This marks the 10th consecutive year that Beijing has blocked Taiwan from attending the WHA; the island last took part as an observer in 2016 before relations deteriorated.
Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims and insists that China has no right to represent its 23 million people in international organisations. Officials in Taipei argue that excluding Taiwan from the WHA undermines global health cooperation, pointing to the COVID‑19 pandemic as proof that politics should not override information‑sharing.
Switzerland, which hosts numerous UN agencies in Geneva, does not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan and has not publicly commented on the foreign minister’s reported visit. Analysts say the episode highlights how Taiwan’s efforts to expand its international space continue to collide with Beijing’s red lines at a time of heightened tension over the island’s status.
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