Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said in Beijing Thursday that the universal application principle in new international health regulations is not a legal basis for Taiwan's entry into the World Health Organization (WHO).

Kong made the remark when asked whether the universal application principle in new international health regulations will be applied to Taiwan, thus becoming the legal basis for the island's attempt to enter to the WHO.

The 58th annual World Health Assembly, held in Geneva on May 23, held a new set of regulations on national and international responses to disease outbreaks. The new regulations contain four principles, including respecting human rights, respecting the sovereignty of member states, observing the United Nations Charter and the WHO Constitution, and universal application. The four principles are equally important and interconnected.

"We believe the universal application principle is not a legal basis for Taiwan's entry into the WHO," Kong said, stressing that the regulations stipulate that provisions will be only applied to sovereign member states, and make clear the obligations of member states and the director-general.

"China is delighted to see new regulations get through and hopes all parties will strengthen cooperation for their full and effective implementation," the spokesman said. He also praised the regulations for pushing for building a global health system and playing an important role in protecting the life and health of people all over the world.

Source: Xinhua