TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Saturday thanked the global community for its growing support of Taiwan’s bid to participate in the World Health Assembly (WHA).

For the ninth consecutive year, Taiwan did not receive an invitation to attend the annual event in Geneva, Switzerland. Health and Welfare Minister Chiu Tai-yuan (邱泰源) nevertheless led a delegation of about 20 people to host an international press conference, forums, and meetings with officials attending the May 19–27 assembly.

MOFA said the increase in global support reflected that Taiwan’s bid to participate in World Health Organization (WHO) activities was both reasonable and necessary, per Radio Taiwan International.

In addition to 11 official diplomatic allies, 15 other countries voiced support for Taiwan’s inclusion. These included Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Israel, and several European nations, such as the United Kingdom, Germany, Latvia, and Luxembourg.

The ministry also noted that Taiwan drew attention in Geneva for its advancements in medical technology. Companies such as Acer Medical and Quanta Computer showcased their latest innovations in smart healthcare, highlighting Taiwan’s strengths in the sector.

Upon their return to Taiwan, Chiu and the delegation met with President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) on Saturday. Lai reiterated that the campaign to protect the health rights of Taiwan’s 23 million citizens would continue, regardless of whether the United States remained in the WHO, per CNA.

He added that this year’s WHA theme, “One World for Health,” aligned with Taiwan’s values.