The head of Taiwan's Examination Yuan has called on the United Nations to support Taiwan's bid to join the World Health Organization (WHO). Yao Chia-wen was speaking in Geneva at the fourth meeting of the UN Human Rights Council on Thursday. This is the first time a top-ranking Taiwanese official has been able to put Taiwan's case directly to a high-level UN meeting.

Taiwan has not been able to join the UN or the WHO due to pressure from China, which considers Taiwan part of its territory. Yao addressed the meeting as a representative of the non-governmental organization Liberal International.

Yao said that Taiwan's exclusion from the WHO could cause serious repercussions not only for the people of Taiwan but for the whole world. He also said that the people of Taiwan have shown their willingness when it comes to issues of public health. He gave as examples the SARS outbreak of 2003 and Taiwan's efforts in offering international humanitarian aid.