GENEVA/BEIJING - The World Health Assembly (WHA), the highest decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), on Monday decided not to include in its agenda a so-called proposal on Taiwan's participation in the annual assembly as an observer.

Addressing the assembly, Chen Xu, permanent representative of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland, said that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War as well as the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's recovery and return to China, and that Taiwan's return is an integral part of the victory of World War II and the post-war international order.

Chen said the UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 and the World Health Assembly Resolution 25.1 have long since resolved the issue of China's representation, including Taiwan, in a comprehensive and conclusive manner.

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He said the WHA has, for consecutive years, rejected so-called Taiwan-related proposals, thereby upholding the authority of the UN and the post-war international order.

Facts have proven that the path of "Taiwan independence" is a dead end, he added.

The Taiwan question, he said, is China's internal affair and a remaining issue from the Chinese civil war. Although the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have yet to be reunified, the legal and factual status of Taiwan as part of China has never changed.

He noted that 183 countries have established official diplomatic relations with China on the basis of the one-China principle. Ahead of this year's WHA session, many countries sent letters to the WHO reaffirming their support for this principle. This fully demonstrates that the one-China principle embodies the broad consensus of the international community.

China's central government has always attached great importance to the well-being of Taiwan compatriots. Provided that the one-China principle is upheld, technical experts from Taiwan Province face no obstacles to participating in WHO activities, he added.

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The so-called claim of a "gap" in the international pandemic prevention system is inconsistent with the facts and is purely a political manipulation, he said.

Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said on Monday that the recent decision by the WHA once again proved that the one-China principle is a universal consensus of the international community.

He made the remarks in response to the decision made by the WHA, the highest decision-making body of the WHO, not to include in its agenda a Taiwan-related proposal.

Noting that the international community's commitment to the one-China principle as a basic norm shall not be challenged, Chen said that as a result of Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities' obstinate separatist stance, the political foundation for the Taiwan region to participate in the WHA no longer exists.

Therefore, the DPP authorities' attempt to push the so-called proposal concerning Taiwan, which violates the consensus upheld by the international community, rightly failed once again, said Chen.

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Despite Taiwan not being a WHA participant, the Taiwan region has unimpeded channels to participate in the WHO's communication and cooperation in the technical domain as well as effective pathways to acquire public health emergency information and assistance. The rights of the people of Taiwan regarding health are effectively protected, said Chen.

The spokesperson warned the DPP authorities that all separatist provocations will be met with resolute countermeasures and all attempts to collude with external forces to seek "Taiwan independence" are doomed to fail.