He has also suspended funding to the WHO over allegations it initially downplayed the seriousness of the outbreak, and was kowtowing to Beijing.Despite the tensions, countries hope to adopt by consensus a resolution urging a joint response to the pandemic.
After several days, a tentative agreement was reached to approve the resolution, which also calls for more equitable access to tests, medical equipment, potential treatments and a possible future vaccine.An EU source hailed the draft as"ambitious," and pointed out that if it does indeed pass by consensus as expected, it would mark the first time a global forum has achieved unanimous support for a text on the COVID-19 response.
While diplomats have agreed in principle on the draft resolution, observers voiced concerns that in the current politicised atmosphere, some countries might still choose to break the consensus next week. And Washington is also leading a number of countries in demanding that the WHO end its exclusion of Taiwan – considered by Beijing to be part of its territory – and allow it to access next week's assembly as an observer.SOME TAIWAN PARTICIPATION A"MINIMUM"
The UN health agency has, however, insisted that such a move would require a resolution by member states, who in 1972 decided Beijing was China's sole legitimate representative.Taiwan was invited to attend the WHA for a number of years as an observer, but that stopped in 2016, with the entrance of a new Taiwanese president, Tsai Ing-wen, who refuses to recognise the concept that Taiwan is part of"one China".