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The Limits of Global Health Diplomacy: Taiwan's Observer Status at the World Health Assembly

Resource type
Date created
2014
Authors/Contributors
Author (aut): Herington, Jonathan
Author (aut): Lee, Kelley
Abstract
In 2009, health authorities from Taiwan (under the name “Chinese Taipei”)a formally attended the 62nd World Health Assembly (WHA) of the World Health Organization as observers, marking the country’s participation for the first time since 1972. The long process of negotiating this breakthrough has been cited as an example of successful global health diplomacy. This paper analyses this negotiation process, drawing on government documents, formal representations from both sides of the Taiwan Strait, and key informant interviews. The actors and their motivations, along with the forums, practices and outcomes of the negotiation process, are detailed. While it is argued that non-traditional diplomatic action was important in establishing the case for Taiwan’s inclusion at the WHA, traditional concerns regarding Taiwanese sovereignty and diplomatic representation ultimately played a decisive role. The persistent influence of these traditional diplomatic questions illustrates the limits of global health diplomacy.
Document
Published as
Herington and Lee
Globalization and Health
2014,
10
:71
http://www.globalizationandhealth.com/content/10/1/71
Publication title
Globalization and Health
Document title
The Limits of Global Health Diplomacy: Taiwan's Observer Status at the World Health Assembly
Date
2014
Volume
10
Copyright statement
Copyright is held by the author(s).
Scholarly level
Peer reviewed?
Yes
Language
English
Member of collection
Download file Size
s12992-014-0071-y.pdf 375.31 KB

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