Taiwan
Journalists want U.N. press credentialsPosted Apr 28 2008
Politicians and media advocacy groups are urging the United Nations to allow Taiwanese press access to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA), the world’s largest health policy-setting body, which will take place in Geneva May 19.
Taiwan is not a U.N. member nation and therefore the U.N. does not allow Taiwanese journalists to report on WHA events.
Taiwanese news organizations have applied for and been denied press credentials every year since 2004, according to the Taipei Times. Taiwan has applied for U.N. observer status — participation in WHA without voting rights — for the past 11 years. In 2007 the government applied to become a full member of the World Health Organization but was turned down.
Taiwan plans to apply for observer status and media organizations will try to gain access again this year, according to Radio Taiwan International. China opposes the bid since it claims Taiwan as a territory, and WHO recognition would mark Taiwan as an independent state. The U.S. also opposes the application because it recognizes statehood.