Taiwan says WHO ignoring requests for observer status at assembly

TAIPEI, May 19 (Reuters) – Taiwan expressed “dissatisfaction and regret” over the World Health Organization’s failure to invite it to attend an upcoming annual assembly in Geneva, amid diplomatic pressure from China to isolate the island. The WHO had ignored Taiwan’s repeated requests to be allowed to attend the World Health Assembly (WHA), scheduled for May 22-28, as an observer, the foreign ministry said in a statement. Taiwan is excluded from most global groups due to Beijing’s objections. China insists that Taiwan should not be treated as an independent country as it considers the island to be one of its…