Placeholder Image

Subtitles section Play video

  • This is an open letter to Dr. Tedros, the Director General of the WHO, in response to the accusations against Taiwan, during the 8th of April WHO press conference.

  • Dear Dr. Tedros, I'm Vivi Lin from Taiwan, a current undergraduate students [student] studying Infectious Diseases in the UK.

  • Upon hearing your response in the press conference today [8th April], I was utterly shocked and saddened that such misleading allegations could come from a supposedly respected, a health professional and the head of the world's most influential international health organization.

  • As a student who has been working closely with Taiwanese and British medical- and health-related NGOs, I can affirm that there has never been any disrespectful comments from our government or our diplomats towards you and the African continent due to race, culture or skin color.

  • I am aware that there are various petitions online urging for your resignation from the WHO.

  • However, none of the request or criticisms were based on discriminations against your race or skin colour, nor the people from the African continent.

  • Taiwan has been striving to contribute as much as possible to the international community and to be a part of the global team in combating the pandemic.

  • Although we have been excluded from the WHO, we have never given up.

  • Our government has done an exemplary job in containing the virus, a feat that has been praised by health professionals and officials from all around the world.

  • And now we have some spare capacity, we're sending aid to our allies and other countries in Europe, America and in Africa who have been harshly impacted by the current outbreak.

  • According to our health professionals who used to work closely with various countries in Africa, a temporary hospital has been built by Taiwan in Eswatini at the moment, and some important medical supplies sent by Taiwan are finding their way to Africa as well.

  • With all the aforementioned in mind, how can you, in a few sentences, attempt to smear Taiwan's reputation, with such false and irresponsible accusations?

  • In the past two days, WHO hosted [a] webinar in regards to how we, as individuals or as health professionals and officials, should confront the current info-demic.

  • Ironically, just right after the webinar, Dr. Tedros, the director general of the WHO, was accusing Taiwan with misinformation.

  • I firmly believe that health is a fundamental human right that should not be denied despite differences of any kind.

  • Health for all, leave no one behind is also the core value that the WHO stands for.

  • Please do not forget your dedication as a public health professional and the vows that you made when you ascended to the honorable positions that you're sitting at [in] right nowhealth of people in the world comes first, not politics.

  • We are now facing the most challenging health crisis of our time.

  • Taiwan cares about people's health.

  • We are willing to help, and we're helping now.

  • Taiwan is a country that stands for progressive values, and we, as the Taiwanese people, are also known for our appreciation for [of] diversity.

  • We have never criticised you nor your actions based on your race, culture or skin color.

  • I, on behalf of my beloved country and people, am now asking for an apology from you under the current circumstance.

  • Thank you for your time.

  • [Taiwan is a country that stands for progress values. Our people are also know for the appreciation for diversity.]

  • [Our officials and diplomats have never made any disrespectful comments toward Dr. Tedros and the African continent due to race, culture or skin colour.]

  • [I am urging an apology from Dr. Tedros to Taiwan and the Taiwanese people.]

  • [Please share this video. #StandWithTW]

This is an open letter to Dr. Tedros, the Director General of the WHO, in response to the accusations against Taiwan, during the 8th of April WHO press conference.

Subtitles and vocabulary

Click the word to look it up Click the word to find further inforamtion about it