TAIPEI (REUTERS) - Taiwan's foreign minister on Tuesday (May 11) criticised China for what he called its "shameless lies" in an escalating dispute over Beijing blocking the island from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

He said China clearly did not care about Taiwan's people.

The United States and the rich-nation Group of Seven (G-7) have called for Taiwan to attend the
WHO's decision-making body, the World Health Assembly, which meets from May 24.

Taiwan is excluded from most global organisations such as the WHO because of the objections of China, which considers the island one of its provinces, and not a country.

China's foreign ministry said on Monday that "appropriate arrangements" have been made for
Taiwan's participation in global health matters and that nobody cared more for Taiwan's people than the Chinese government.

"Shameless lies! Just goes to show the CCP can't tell the truth," Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said on Twitter, referring to China's ruling Communist Party.

"After what Beijing has done to Xinjiang, Tibet & Hong Kong, no sane person would believe it could take care of Taiwan's health needs or otherwise," Wu added. "Thank God we aren't under China's control! Please help us keep it at a distance."

Wu said the Chinese Communist Party could not claim to speak for Taiwan as it has never ruled it and only the island's democratically elected government can represent its people.

The Kuomintang (KMT) forces lost a civil war to the communists on the mainland and fled to Taiwan in 1949.
The KMT has since lost its grip on Taiwan and the current ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) espouses independence for the island but has not formally done so lest it invites a Chinese military response.

In Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hua Chunying said the blame lay with the DPP for refusing to accept Taiwan is part of China.

"The DPP authorities know this well. Taiwan compatriots are our flesh and blood. The Chinese central government takes all necessary measures to ensure the health and well-being of the Taiwan compatriots," she added.

While the WHO cooperates with Taiwan's technical experts on Covid-19, it is up to member states whether to invite Taiwan to observe the WHO meeting, the WHO's principal legal officer Steve Solomon said on Monday.

China can easily corral enough countries to support blocking Taiwan from the World Health Assembly, according to diplomats.