Taipei - Taiwan on Wednesday reiterated its determination to join the World Health Organization (WHO), in reaction to the latest moves by the People's Republic of China to prevent the island country from joining the international organization.

"To prevent a gap in the global epidemic-prevention system, the WHO should contact Taiwan directly on health issues, and the most appropriate way is to allow Taiwan to become an observer of the World Health Assembly (WHA)," said Phoebe Yeh, deputy spokeswoman for Taiwan's Foreign Ministry.

Yeh was responding to a recent remark by Wang Yi, director of the Chinese cabinet's Taiwan Affairs Office, that China would not allow Taiwan to join the WHO because Taiwan is not a sovereign state in Beijing's eyes.

Wang, a former ambassador to Japan, is now China's top official for Taiwan issues.

During a meeting with a Japanese delegation on Monday, Wang said Beijing would continue to bar Taiwan from formally joining the WHO, but might allow a separate framework to connect Taiwan with the health organization.

Taiwan was shocked the statement as it seemingly contradicts a May 28 statement by Chinese President Hu Jintao that China understood Taiwan's desire for "international space," and that Beijing and Taipei could discuss Taiwan's joining the WHO in bilateral talks.

"International space" is a term used by Taiwan to refer to such international activities as launching diplomatic ties with foreign countries and joining world organizations.

Taiwan and China split in 1949 when the Republic of China lost the Chinese Civil War and fled to Taiwan to set up a government-in-exile.

China continues to see Taiwan as a province. (dpa)