Amid continued pressure from Beijing, Taiwan looks set to continue to receive the cold shoulder at a range of international events this year.

Despite efforts by the Taiwanese government to secure an invitation to attend the World Health Assembly (WHA) this year, the World Health Organization (WHO) secretariat has yet to decide whether or not to issue one to the country, Taipei Times reports. The World Health Assembly is the supreme decision-making body of the WHO and will convene this year from May 22-31 in Geneva. Taiwan still hopes to receive an invitation, but the deadline for online registration is May 8.

In light of Beijing’s efforts to undermine Taiwan’s position in the international community, it remains to be seen if Taiwan will eventually be invited to the WHA. However, Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) has said he will lead a delegation to Geneva even if Taiwan does not receive an invitation.

Foreign Minister David Lee (李大維) said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) is still working with Taiwan’s representative office in Geneva to obtain an invitation to the WHA, but “the outlook may not be so bright.”

Taiwan has held “observer status” at the WHA since 2009 and has participated since then at the assembly under the name “Chinese Taipei,” an arrangement agreed upon by President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration, the Chinese government, and the WHO, led by Margaret Chan, from Hong Kong since 2006.

However, after President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) took office in May 2016, Taiwan only received the invitation to attend last year’s forum two weeks before the WHA took place that year.

The late invitation cited the “United Nations Resolution 2758,” which restored the government of the People’s Republic of China as the only legitimate representatives of China to the U.N. and expelled the “representatives of Chiang Kai Shek (蔣介石)” from the U.N., and the “one China” principle.

The WHO failed to provide Taiwan with the information needed to register for the WHA online.

Taiwan still participated in the WHA last year despite the late notice and the controversially phrased invitation.

The inclusion of the U.N. resolution and the “one China principle” was widely seen as political interference by Beijing, which has shut off all official communication channels with Taiwan, reportedly because President Tsai refused to acknowledge the “1992 consensus.” Beijing insists that the “1992 consensus” forms the basis for cross-Strait talks. The so-called consensus, whose very existence is questioned in Taiwan, includes a “one China” clause with both sides (or so Taipei insists) historically having separate interpretations of what “one China” means.

Beijing followed the move to limit Taiwan’s participation in the WHA by preventing Taiwan from taking part in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) triennial assembly from Sep. 27 - Oct. 7. The U.S. and several of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies lobbied the Montreal-based organization to include Taiwan, but reports emerged that the ICAO warned participants against “speaking out for other countries,” or their microphones would be muted. Taiwanese reporters were turned away from the event.

In September 2016, the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs warned government officials against taking part in any of Taiwan’s National Day events, saying such action would “provoke China.”

Last year, Taiwan attempted to apply for observer status at the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) 85th general assembly for the first time in 32 years after Taiwan withdrew in 1984. Its application was rejected on Nov. 6, 2016. Foreign Minister David Lee said Beijing’s interference in the decision was “a very obvious factor.”

Taiwan’s few remaining diplomatic allies have called for the U.N. to allow Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the U.N.’s specialized agencies like the WHO, ICAO, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Belgian and German politicians have also written statements calling for the inclusion of Taiwan in the ICAO and Interpol. China’s Vice Minister of Public Security Meng Hongwei was elected President of Interpol, and the next Interpol general assembly is set to be held in Beijing.

Timeline of Chinese interference in Taiwan affairs in 2016:

Editor: Edward White