Geneva: Taiwan failed today in a renewed attempt to participate in major UN discussions about health as the 193-nation World Health Assembly sided with China in leaving the issue off its agenda.

Taiwan, which has tried for more than a decade to become a member or observer of the World Health Organization, was rejected by consensus on a procedural move by the Chinese delegation at the annual meeting of the governing assembly.

China urged further exclusion of Taiwan as a separate entity, claiming that Taiwan is part of China and is represented by Beijing in WHO and in the assembly.

Chinese Health Minister Chen Zhu assured delegates that "the Chinese government has always been concerned about the health of Taiwanese compatriots and is willing to do its utmost to protect the health rights of people in Taiwan".

Chen said kinship between mainland Chinese and residents of Taiwan "has not changed and will not change".

"In the earthquake that hit Sichuan in China, we received strong support from Chinese across the globe, including Taiwan compatriots," he said, noting that mainland China helped Taiwan when the island was hit by an earthquake in 1999.

Gambia and Palau spoke out in favour of Taiwan s participation and were warmly applauded by delegates, but it made no difference in changing the outcome.

Pakistan sided with China, its longtime ally.

The US delegation, which refrained from commenting during the discussion, issued a statement after the decision saying that a way should be found to improve Taiwan s participation in the global health system.

"The US has long supported observer status for Taiwan in the World Health Assembly," it said.

But the United States said it opposed membership for Taiwan in WHO because Washington has a "one-China policy".

Source : PTI