The World Health Assembly (WHA), the highest decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), on Monday decided not to include in its agenda a so-called proposal on Taiwan's participation in the annual assembly as an observer.
In response to the 78th WHA's decision on certain countries' so-called proposal of "inviting Taiwan to participate in the WHA as an observer," Chen Xu, permanent representative of China to the United Nations (UN) Office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland, stated in his speech at the assembly that UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 and World Health Assembly Resolution 25.1 have long since resolved the issue of China's representation, including Taiwan, in a comprehensive and conclusive manner.
"The 1943 Cairo Declaration clearly stated that all the territories Japan has stolen from China, including Taiwan, shall be restored to China, which was reaffirmed in the 1945 Potsdam Proclamation. In the 1970s, United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 and World Health Assembly Resolution 25.1 explicitly recognized the representatives of the Government of the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations," Chen said in an interview on Monday. He said that the WHA has, for consecutive years, rejected so-called Taiwan-related proposals, thereby upholding the authority of the UN and the post-war international order.
"The decision of this year's WHA sends a strong signal: Upholding the one-China principle reflects the will of the people and the trend of the times. It is a powerful rebuttal to the Taiwan authorities and the political manipulation by a few countries. For years, under the one-China principle, the Chinese central government has made proper arrangements for Taiwan's participation in global health affairs. Taiwan experts have full access to global health information and can share local experiences and practices externally. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities' so-called claim of a 'gap in [global] anti-epidemic efforts' is nothing but a politically-driven lie, aimed at using health as a pretext to seek separatism," said Chen.
Facts have proven that the path of Taiwan separatism is a dead end, he added.
The WHA is typically held every May in Geneva. Its main responsibilities include setting organizational policies and reviewing and approving the program budget. This year's Assembly is scheduled to conclude on May 27.
World Health Assembly again rejects Taiwan-related proposal
World Health Assembly again rejects Taiwan-related proposal
From cutting-edge technology exhibitions to retail stores thousands of kilometers away from Europe and Southeast Asia, China-made robot vacuum cleaners are increasingly becoming a popular choice among consumers worldwide.
At electronics retailers in Berlin, Germany, Chinese brands such as Roborock and Dreame occupy prominent positions in dedicated robot vacuum sections, offering a wide range of products priced between 200 and 2,000 euros.
Many local consumers said that when purchasing smart home appliances including robot vacuum cleaners, they tend to give priority to Chinese-made products.
"It's a good price and good quality. It's also the innovation. I have a feeling that the European brands are not innovating enough," said one customer.
"I think they're always on top of the other technologies. They are getting them out faster. A lot of us are switching to the Chinese technology," another consumer said.
Germany is one of the most important overseas markets for China's floor-cleaning robots.
According to data from market research firm GfK, from January to November 2025, more than six out of 10 robot vacuum cleaners sold in Western Europe were Chinese brands.
Industry data also point to a strong global momentum.
According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), global shipments of smart robot vacuum cleaners reached 17.424 million units in the first three quarters of 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 18.7 percent.
Chinese brands including Roborock, Ecovacs, Dreame, Xiaomi and Narwal ranked among the world's top five in terms of shipment volume, with a combined share of nearly 70 percent of the global market.
At a robot vacuum cleaner manufacturing plant in Huizhou, south China's Guangdong Province, workers were seen stepping up production of newly launched models that recently debuted at the Consumer Electronics Show in the United States, which concluded Friday in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The factory adjusted its production lines as early as December 2025 and stocked inventory in advance for overseas markets to ensure that new products could be delivered to global consumers at the earliest possible time.
"In 2025, Roborock's global shipments exceeded 7.2 million units. Since 2024, overseas revenue has accounted for more than 50 percent of our total revenue. Our products have now been sold to more than 170 countries and regions, serving more than 20 million households worldwide," said Quan Gang, president of Roborock.
At another robot vacuum cleaner manufacturing facility in Dongguan, Guangdong, rising overseas orders have prompted the company to upgrade its production lines with intelligent technologies to further boost capacity. The factory is currently operating at full load to meet a growing demand.
"For 2026, we have already obtained overseas orders worth at least 300 million to 400 million yuan (around 43 million to 57.3 million U.S. dollars). In addition, we've engaged in strategic cooperation with European home appliance group Cebos Group, and our total confirmed orders have exceeded 600 million yuan (around 86 million U.S. dollars)," said Zhang Junbin, founder and CEO of Narwal Robotics.
Chinese robot vacuum brands gain strong global traction
