Taiwan: Incorrect WHO ruling led to Italian travel ban

Taipei  — Taiwan has accused the World Health Organisation on Sunday of providing incorrect information in a report on the new strain of virus sweeping China, which it says has led to Italy banning flights to the region.

Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said that Taiwan is not part of China and the two countries are administered by separate and independent health authorities.

"I would like to publicly call on the WHO to recognize a simple fact, that Taiwan is Taiwan, and it is not part of the PRC. Taiwan is not under China's jurisdiction...This is such a simple reality," said Wu.

"We truly regret the decision made by the Italian government. We think it is a mistake based on incorrect information instead of on a true assessment of the danger of the coronavirus. The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Taiwan is not higher than in most countries that are affected," he added.

Both Italy and Vietnam had banned flights from Taiwan, but Vietnam lifted its ban on Taiwanese flights on 1 February following negotiations via diplomatic channels.

(AP photo)