Virus Outbreak: US Senate passes bill urging Taiwan WHA actionStaff writer, with CNAThe US Senate on Monday passed a bill that asks US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to come up with a strategy to help Taiwan regain observer status at the World Health Assembly (WHA). The Senate unanimously passed the bipartisan legislation, which was introduced by US Senator James Inhofe, cochair of the US Senate Taiwan Caucus, on Jan. 29 last year and passed by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on June 3 last year. Photo: Reuters“Granting Taiwan observer status at the World Health Organization would allow Taiwan to fully share its expertise in handling COVID-19 and rightfully reflect its global healthcare contributions that have been unjustly curtailed by Chinese objections,” US Senator Cory Gardner said. Tedros should not be manipulated by the irrational demands of one WHO member country and should restore Taiwan’s observer status in the organization, she said. It is regrettable that China is threatening and lambasting Wellington for its support for Taiwan, she said.

Source: Taipei Times May 12, 2020 15:56 UTC