We, the British Office Taipei, the American Institute in Taiwan, the Australian Office, Taipei, the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei, and the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, wish to reaffirm our support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the work of the World Health Organization and Taiwan’s participation as an observer in the World Health Assembly.
As this year’s 75th session of the World Health Assembly commences in Geneva, Taiwan remains largely excluded from the world’s international health system. Taiwan’s experts are now working diligently to counter growing community COVID-19 transmission. Excluding Taiwan from the work of the World Health Assembly hampers these efforts and compromises global health and safety.
Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the forums and technical committees of the World Health Organization would benefit both the 24 million people on Taiwan and the world. Taiwan deserves acclaim for its accomplishments on public health security. Taiwan’s early response to COVID-19, including its rigorous testing strategies, robust border control measures, and steadfast respect for human rights, remain a public health success story and contributed to one of the lowest incidences of the disease in the world to date. Taiwan shared personal protective equipment with countries and regions around the globe in the early stages of the pandemic. Taiwan has also been developing COVID-19 vaccines and is eager to contribute to the global vaccine effort. It recently pledged further financial and in-kind support at the Second Global COVID-19 Summit.
Through the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF), Taiwan shares its expertise in addressing shared global challenges, including health issues. The World Health Assembly would benefit from Taiwan’s world-class expertise, and Taiwan can help the World Health Organization live up to its commitment to “health for all.”
The UK and Taiwan have entered into an arrangement that will enable the exchange of driving `licences' issued by the respective Licensing Authorities. Holders of a valid UK driving 'licence' who are currently resident in Taiwan will be able to exchange their 'licence' for a Taiwan one, and vice versa for holders of Taiwan driving 'licences' in the UK. The arrangement will come into effect from 1 January 2022, when applications will open.
This arrangement is underpinned by a Memorandum of Understanding signed between John Dennis, Representative is the British Office and Kelly W. High, Representative of the Taipei Representative Office in the UK via an online signing ceremony on 23 December, witnessed in Taipei by Harry Hoyden sung, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
John Dennis, Representative at the British Office Taipei, said:
I am extremely pleased and grateful to welcome this new arrangement on behalf of the British community in Taiwan. It comes after much anticipation and a lot of hard work on both sides. People in both the UK and Taiwan will be able to enjoy the benefits of this new arrangement from 2022. It offers major new flexibility, particularly to long-term UK residents of Taiwan, and it symbolizes, the powerful and deepening cooperation between the UK and Taiwan in so many areas. We are delighted to be able to announce it today.
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