Canada Backs U.S.-Led Effort for Taiwan at WHO Over China’s Objections

Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne responds to a question during a news conference in Ottawa on March 9, 2020. The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld

OTTAWA—Canada has backed an American−led effort to allow Taiwan to be granted observer status at the World Health Organization because of its early success in containing COVID−19.

Beijing says Taiwan is a Chinese province and should be under its rule, while pressuring other countries to not recognize the self-ruled island and preventing its membership at WHO.