Coronavirus: Taiwan rejects ‘baseless’ allegation it subject WHO chief to campaign of abuse and racism

Taiwan has hit back at what it described as “baseless” accusations made by Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organisation, in which he claimed to have been subject to racial abuse from officials in the East Asian state.

The Taiwanese foreign ministry has demanded an apology from Dr Tedros, who said he has received death threats and been called a “negro” since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Without having checked the facts, Tedros’s unprovoked and untrue accusations not only differ from reality, they have also seriously harmed our government and our people,” the ministry said in a statement on Thursday. “This kind of slander is extremely irresponsible.”

President Tsai Ing-wen expressed “strong protest” against the allegation that Taiwan was behind the campaign of abuse, and invited him to visit the island. “Taiwan always objects discrimination in any form,” she said.

In reference to Taipei’s exclusion from the United Nations and the WHO, due to pressure from China which claims the island as its own, President Tsai added: “We know how it feels to be discriminated against and isolated more than anyone else as we have been excluded from global organisations for years.”

Dr Tedros first made the allegation during a media briefing on Wednesday, having been asked to address criticism from Donald Trump and other world leaders over the WHO’s approach to the pandemic.

He revealed that he had been subject to “personal attacks that have been going on for more than two, three months.”

“Abuses, or racist comments, giving me names, black or Negro. I’m proud of being black, proud of being Negro,” he added.

“I don’t care, to be honest ... even death threats. I don’t give a damn.”

Dr Tedros, who is a former Ethiopian health and foreign minister, claimed that “this attack came from Taiwan” three months ago.

“We need to be honest. I will be straight today. From Taiwan,” he said. “And Taiwan, the Foreign Ministry also, they know the campaign. They didn’t disassociate themselves. They even started criticising me in the middle of all that insult and slur, but I didn’t care.”

Taiwan’s foreign ministry, which has criticised the WHO’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, called for an “immediate” apology.

“Our country has never encouraged the public to launch personal attacks against him or made any racially discriminatory comments,” a spokeswoman said.

“Our government demands an immediate clarification and an apology from director-general Tedros.”

Any online attacks against Dr Tedros are not linked to the state’s foreign ministry nor instigated by it, the office added.

Relations between the WHO and Taiwan have worsened since the pandemic began, even as health experts have lauded Taiwan for its response to the virus.

It has reported just 379 cases and five deaths, despite its close proximity and trade links with China, where the pandemic began.

Taiwan claims that information it provided to the WHO on cases and prevention methods has not been passed onto member states.

While Taiwan’s government was a founding member of the UN, China took its seat in the body – and all subordinate organisations such as the WHO – in 1971.

Amid criticism it is overlooking the East Asian island, WHO released a statement last week saying that it was taking into account the state’s contributions in the fight against coronavirus.

“The question of Taiwanese membership in WHO is up to WHO Member States, not WHO staff,” it said.

China’s Communist Party regards Taiwan as a breakaway province and has vowed to one day seize the island – by force if necessary.

Beijing’s efforts to isolate the island have ramped up since the election of President Tsai Ing-wen, who rejects the “One China” policy.