The incoming Taiwanese government has accused China of 'political interference' in the World Health Organization (WHO). The accusation follows after a top Chinese official raised doubts last week over the island nation's ability to keep its observer status at the WHO.     

On Friday, Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office, said that Taiwan's involvement in the WHO is a conditional arrangement based on its allegiance to the "one China" principle. This conditional arrangement could cease to exist "should the political foundation of cross-Strait ties be destabilized in the future," Ma noted.

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The Incoming Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) cabinet spokesman Tung Chen-Yuan on Sunday strongly criticized Ma's comments, saying that China's stance on the WHO issue is simply unacceptable.    

"We believe this is political interference in our participation in the WHO. We cannot accept this and express our solemn protest," Tung said at a press conference. "Taiwan people's health and their right to fully participate in the international community must not be constrained by any political framework."

Tung told reporters that the incoming Taiwanese government will send its Minister of Health Lin Tzuo-yien to the United Nations to hold negotiations on the issue. A UN meeting is scheduled later this month in Geneva.

Taiwan's new government led by pro-independent leader Tsai Ing-wen will be sworn into office on May 20. Tsai's pro=independence views helped in securing her a landslide victory in Taiwan's presidential elections in January, but this has made her a political villain in China.

Since Tsai's landslide victory, China has been continuously warning Taiwan against any secessionist movement that seeks to see the island break away from China. President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang have expressly stated that the diplomatic relation between two countries depends on Taiwan's willingness to accept the "one China principle."

China considers Taiwan as a wayward province that is waiting for unification. However, some Taiwanese insist that the island is a sovereign country and considers China as an aggressor. Taiwan ceded from China in 1949 following a civil unrest.

Tagschina, Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen, China and Taiwan