The professional membership of the Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club (TFCC) strongly condemns the exclusion of two Taiwanese journalists from the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva. This incident marks a troubling recurrence of discriminatory practices faced by Taiwanese media workers in international forums.
Despite having followed standard accreditation procedures, two journalists from Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA) were denied press credentials at the WHA. The two were reportedly asked to provide official PRC passports. This denial of access based on nationality is unacceptable, particularly in a global body such as the United Nations.
Press freedom is a cornerstone of democracy and transparency, essential for holding institutions accountable. The U.N. itself has previously affirmed that the right to freedom of opinion and expression, press freedom, and access to information are integral to peace and sustainable development.
The exclusion of Taiwanese journalists undermines the integrity of these institutions and violates the universal right to free expression. We call on the U.N. to issue the necessary accreditations to Taiwanese journalists and ensure their access and right to report is not undermined.
Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club
May 26, 2024