The annual assembly in Geneva decided not to extend Taiwan an invitation to the event which runs from May 21 to May 30.

China and Pakistan urged members to reject Taiwan’s inclusion while eSwatini and the Marshall Islands spoke in favour.

China claims sovereignty over self-ruled Taiwan and says the island is not a separate country but part of “one China” governed by Beijing.

China’s insistence that Taiwan is not a country means that the island is excluded from many international organisations.

China welcomed the WHO decision.

“This fully shows that the one-China principle is the aspiration of the people and the trend of the times in the international community and cannot be challenged in any way,” the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said that before the opening of the conference, nearly 100 countries expressed their adherence to the one-China principle and their opposition to Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Assembly by means of special letters to WHO and statements.

“China also urges certain countries not to pretend to be confused, stop politicizing the health issue, stop interfering in China’s internal affairs under the pretext of the Taiwan issue, and stop the erroneous practice of using ‘Taiwan to control China’,” the ministry said.

There was no immediate response from Taiwan’s government to the WHO decision.

Taiwan is allowed to attend some technical WHO meetings but said its exclusion from WHO hindered efforts to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

The island rejects China’s sovereignty claims and says only the Taiwanese people can decide their future.