TAIPEI, (Reuters) – U.S. officials and Taiwanese officials met to discuss expanding Taiwan’s international participation. They also discussed “opportunities for Taiwan” to participate in a World Health Organization major meeting.

China has objected to Taiwan being excluded from many global organizations. China regards Taiwan as a part of its provinces, and Taiwan not as a country. Taipei specifically complained that Taiwan’s exclusion from WHO has made it difficult to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a Friday statement, the U.S. State Department stated that high-ranking diplomats met in Washington including Michele J. Sison (Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs) and Hsiao BiKhim (de facto U.S. Ambassador).

It said, in reference to another United Nations institution: “This discussion concentrated on Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Assembly as an observer” in May.

From 2009 to 2016, Taiwan was an observer at the World Health Assembly. This body is responsible for making decisions about WHO. China withheld further participation following the election of Taiwan’s President TsaiIng-wen. China considers her a separatist, a charge she denies.

Calls for Taiwan to join the WHO have been supported by G7, a group of industrialized countries. China and WHO both claim Taiwan was given the appropriate COVID access.

Additionally, the State Department stated that Taiwanese contributions to multilateral forums were also addressed at Thursday’s meeting.

“All the participants recognized the necessity of working closely together with those who share our concerns about Taiwan not being able to provide its expertise, resource, energy, or generosity to the international community.”

Chen Xu (China’s Ambassador to the U.N. mission at Geneva, home to the WHO), stated last month that Taiwan is a Chinese territory and had no reason to participate in the global bodies.

In a Twitter, Joseph Wu, Taiwan’s Foreign Minister, responded: “Living all the time!” The moon might be yours!