The World Health Organization has invited Taiwan to take part in the May 18-27 meeting of the World Health Assembly, the WHO's governing body, as an observer. The invitation came just after Beijing and Taipei signed agreements April 26 to deepen ties, signaling that relations across the Taiwan Strait are further warming.
The WHA meeting will mark Taiwan's first participation in a meeting of a United Nations-affiliated organization since it lost its U.N. seat in 1971. It will help Taiwan take adequate measures to prevent the entry of A-type H1N1 flu and to cope with domestic cases if they emerge. In 2003, Taiwan saw more than 40 people die of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) amid China's refusal to let it take part in a WHA meeting.
China at that time opposed Taiwan's participation in a WHA meeting because of concern it could undermine the "One China" principle. Then Taiwanese President Shui-bian, of the independence-oriented Democratic Progressive Party, sought acceptance in a WHA meeting under the name "Taiwan."