China turns down US call to invite Taiwan to WHO meeting

China on Thursday rejected a call by the World Health Organization to invite Taiwan to its annual gathering, after the United States insisted on the democratic island to participate. Taiwan has been barred in recent years from participating in the assembly by China, which considers the island a renegade province to be reunited with the mainland. For the latest headlines, follow our Google News Channel online or through the app. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US strongly advocates for the WHO to invite Taiwan to participate as an observer at its annual World Health Assembly, criticizing its boycott…