Taiwan: Journalists excluded from UN health assembly

Reporters from the Taiwanese Central News Agency (CNA) were denied interview permits to the upcoming World Health Assembly (WHA), with officials reportedly asking them to provide a ‘Chinese passport’. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate, the Association of Taiwan Journalists (ATJ), in calling on the United Nations and the World Health Organization to uphold press freedom and allow access to journalists and media workers regardless of nationality.

Delegates gather for the opening day of the World Health Assembly in Geneva on May 22, 2022. Credit: Jean-Guy Python / AFP

Ahead of the 77th annual United Nations (UN) assembly in Geneva, Switzerland on May 27,, two journalists with the Taiwanese media service CNA applied for interview permits with the UN in early May. CNA Brussels correspondent Tian Si-ru and Paris correspondent Judy Tseng selected ‘Thailand’ and ‘Tuvalu’ in the application form’s country section as no ‘Taiwan’ option was available on the online portal, with the journalists instead writing ‘Taiwan (Republic of China) in the notes column.

Two responses were sent back on May 9 and 10, directing the pair to provide "an official Chinese passport that complies with United Nations policies and the guidance of United Nations General Assembly resolutions”. Speaking with the ATJ, Tian Si-ru said that she had submitted a Taiwanese passport with supporting documents, but had heard no response.

In 2023, Judy Tseng and Tien Hsi-ru applied for passes to cover the WHA and were initially approved, however, on arriving to collect their accreditation, a UN staff member informed the pair that their passports were not recognised and they would not be permitted to attend the session. The move reportedly came following a ‘little pressure’ from Chinese diplomats, with the staff member claiming he would face repercussions if he allowed them entrance. CNA journalists were also denied access in 2022.

A Taiwanese delegation has failed to attend the assembly, the annual meeting of the World Health Organization’s decision-making body, since 2016.

The ATJ said: “The Association of Taiwan Journalists calls on the United Nations to stop being interfered with by China and issue formal interview permits to journalists affiliated with Taiwanese media to facilitate reporting on important international conferences such as the World Health Assembly, achieve the purpose of news dissemination, ensure the full flow of information, and satisfy the public's right to know.”

The IFJ said: “Events like the World Health Assembly hold significant importance to people in all countries and it is the responsibility of the United Nations and other presiding authorities to ensure that the media can conduct its duties without interference from special interests.  The United Nations and its affiliate organisations must fulfil its commitments to press freedom.”