Australia will continue to back Taiwan's push to return to the World Health Organization (WHO), risking a fresh diplomatic stoush with China.
Key points:
Beijing regards Taiwan as a rebellious province and has been ramping up efforts to internationally isolate it since the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party took power in 2016.
Four years ago China effectively blocked Taipei from participating as an observer in the World Health Assembly, the WHO's decision-making body.
Australia has long supported the principle of Taiwan re-joining the organisation with observer status, but the COVID-19 crisis has thrown a spotlight on the issue.
Recently, Taiwan intensified its campaign to return to the WHO, arguing the ban on its participation hampered its early efforts to contain coronavirus.
Earlier this week Taiwan's Health Minister called on Australia for support, arguing his country could use the WHO to teach other nations about its successful campaign to suppress COVID-19.
Now Australia has endorsed Taiwan's argument.
"The challenge of COVID-19 demands a determined, global response," said a spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
"The WHO must therefore maintain a close working relationship with all health authorities.
"Where statehood is a requirement for membership of organisations, we support Taiwan's participation as an observer or guest, consistent with our one-China policy."
But the Morrison Government is also wary of inflaming ties with China which are already deeply strained by the dispute over Australia's push for an international investigation into the COVID-19 outbreak.
One source in the Federal Government said Australia would stand by its current position on Taiwan but would not seek to pick a fresh fight with Beijing on the issue.
But some Australian MPs believed the Morrison Government should intensify efforts to agitate for Taiwan's return to the WHO in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Coalition MPs have lined up to criticise China's Ambassador to Australia after he warned that Canberra's push for an independent inquiry could result in a boycott of Australian goods by Chinese consumers.
Several MPs were also angered when billionaire Twiggy Forrest invited China's Consul-General for Victoria, Zhou Long, to speak alongside Health Minister Greg Hunt at an official press conference.
Mr Zhou used to work as the cyber affairs coordinator at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing.
This morning Prime Minister Scott Morrison brushed off the controversy, but said the Consul was "not invited by the Commonwealth to that press conference".
He continued to stand by Australia's push for an inquiry, dismissing Beijing's suggestion the virus may not have started in China.
"It started in China and what the world over needs to know - and there's a lot of support for this - is how did it start and what are the lessons that can be learned."
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiYmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTA1LTAxL2F1c3RyYWxpYS1zdGlsbC1iYWNrcy10YWl3YW4tcmV0dXJuLXdoby1yaXNreS1tb3ZlLzEyMjA0ODUw0gEnaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAuYWJjLm5ldC5hdS9hcnRpY2xlLzEyMjA0ODUw?oc=5
2020-05-01 03:34:15Z
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