New Zealand backs Taiwan's role in WHO due to success with coronavirus

Yes, this makes sense, and I am glad that New Zealand has come out and said with courage what many people feel throughout the world.

PS I am not against China, so this is not 'China bashing'. I love China and her people, and the culturally distinct zone of Taiwan, however you wish to name the island. In the overall picture, the disease is bigger than this, and I believe China is bigger than this too.

Sadly, political posturing seems to overrule common sense. If saving its face is so important, China should be allowed to propose a means by which Taiwan can participate in WHO, in a way that won't be as humiliating as the way Taiwan currently sends athletes to the Olympic games (as "Chinese Taipei").

"who" is china's puppet, no respect for both.

Hopefully, other countries will throw their support behind Taiwan. Why not learn from the best practices? It benefits everyone long term.

Nandakamanda

and the culturally distinct zone of Taiwan

Taiwan is a country, not a zone, unless you follow the CCP propaganda line.

Good for New Zealand!

We stand with you Taiwan against Chinese aggression!

Considering the joke of an organization the WHO has been exposed as the past few months, Taiwan really isn't missing much.

Time for the whole world and UN to recognize Taiwan as a sovereign nation.

Taiwan is an independent country, location, territory has its own government its own currency China also. It is a independent state it does qualify to be a member of the WHO.

Well, I guess China can't threaten NZ by cutting off tourists to NZ. But I'm sure they will do something.

Good on New Zealand.

Taiwan has demonstrated time and time again it is a mature, responsible democracy.

It's a shame that no one has to courage to stand up to China, yet.

The WHO and the UN are both pathetic organisations anyway, but yes Taiwan is a Country separate form China no matter what china says or thinks.

But regardless This guy robertson would go well in China as he is part of a govt that locks a nation up illegally as he and adern did recently.

Let the haters hate, but that is true !!

I wonder what Trump and the US response will be. Perfect opportunity in the trade war to back Taiwanese containment policies.

BigYenToday  05:21 pm JST

Sold out for trade with China?

Yes. But maybe from now things will be different.

China is very manipulative - I really don't see how anyone is going to get Taiwan into its rightful place around the WHO table. Unless perhaps, the vote was to remove China first and then vote again...

Once you look more closely to what happened, it's actually quite clear why this topic is much more complex than initially meets the eye.

25 October 1945 - control of the island given to the ROC (Republic of China), lead by the Kuomintang after Japan surrendered.

1949 - Martial law declared.

1949 - Civil War - KMT ends up having to retreat back to the island. Taipei declared as temporary capital or ROC.

Ongoing - Both the ROC and PRC claim to be the sole legitimate government of China (one China).

1971 - UN expels ROC and replaces it with the PRC.

1987 - Martial law lifted

1996 - first presidential election

2000 - DPP (Democratic Progressive Party) comes into power and seeks independence, but gets blocked by China.

So when you look at it this way, the civil war never ended. No peace treaty was ever signed. PRC believes in the "One China" principle just as the ROC claims the China to be part of the ROC.

Considering this, does it seem that strange that China wouldn't recognize Taiwan as an independent country?