Rapper blasts WHO for excluding Taiwan in new song

Taipei, Feb. 18 (CNA) Taiwanese rapper Dwagie (大支) has blasted the World Health Organization (WHO) for excluding Taiwan in the global fight against the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak in his latest song released Tuesday.

In the song, with English lyrics titled "WHO," the rapper opened with the line "Health for all, leaving no one behind," which is the goal of the international organization.

However, the WHO has long excluded Taiwan from participation due to Chinese pressure, even though it is known globally for its medical expertise, he says in the song.

Dwagie criticized the WHO for thinking that "politics matter when human life is on the line."

The song also accuses China for failing to do its job in preventing the outbreak, instead putting more focus on clamping down on the spread of news regarding the virus.

The three-minute song also says the WHO should change its name to "Winnie Happy Organization," referring to the satirical comparison between Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) and the popular children's cartoon character Winnie the Pooh, whose images have been banned in China.

In a Facebook post, Dwagie said the song was written to express his view that the enjoyment of health should be a universal right without the distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition.

The 35-year-old rapper is known locally for using his music as a medium for expressing his views on controversial issues.

Between 2009 and 2016, Taiwan participated in the annual World Health Assembly (WHA), the decision-making body of the WHO, as an observer.

Since 2017, however, the WHO has not invited Taiwan to the WHA, in line with Beijing's hardline stance on cross-Taiwan Strait relations since President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) of the Democratic Progressive Party took office in May 2016.

A number of governments, including those of the U.S., Japan and Canada, have renewed their support for Taiwan's inclusion in the WHA as an observer over the past weeks amid the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic.