Taipei - The World Health Organization (WHO) has allowed Taiwan to attend its annual assembly as an observer, marking another score in Taipei's fight to end its international isolation, a Taiwan official confirmed Wednesday.

Minister of the Department of Health Yeh Chin-chuan told parliament that WHO has invited Taiwan to attend the World Health Assembly (WHA), opening on May 18 in Geneva, as an observer.

China in the past raised objections to Taiwan's participation. Taiwan lost its United Nations seat to communist China in 1971 and was expelled from all UN-affiliated organizations in the following years.