US Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar attends the first day of the 72nd World Health Assembly at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday May 20, 2019. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) (Associated Press)GENEVA — The United States is backing calls for Taiwan to be granted observer status at the U.N. health agency’s biggest annual gathering, the U.S. health secretary said Monday. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar spoke to reporters in Geneva on the sidelines of the start of the World Health Organization’s annual assembly, which China’s government has prevented Taiwan from attending. “We support Taiwan having the type of status it had previously here at the World Health Assembly,” Azar said. Despite the difference of opinion over Taiwan, Azar said “we have an excellent relationship with China, especially on the health front.”Relations aren’t necessarily strong on the trade front.

Source: Washington Post May 20, 2019 16:34 UTC