World Health Organisation legal counsel Steven Solomon said on May 4 that two WHO member nations have proposed the organisation grant observer status to Taiwan. Solomon said the 194 WHO member states will discuss Taiwan's status at the upcoming World Health Assembly, the organisation's decision-making body, to be held virtually on May 18 and 19. Taiwan had observer status in the WHO from 2009 to 2016, when Tsai Ing-wen, who favored more distant relations with China, was elected president of Taiwan. After Tsai ing-wen's election, Beijing took numerous measures to isolate Taiwan internationally, including poaching several of its few remaining diplomatic allies.

(Comment: Taiwan's successful coronavirus response and its early warnings to the WHO have renewed international debate around its lack of official status in the organisation. China opposes the WHO granting recognition to Taiwan. The decision will be seen as a reflection of Beijing's influence within the organisation.)