Fiji's health minister, Solomone Naivalu, has defended his support for Taiwan to be given observer status at the World Health Assembly in Geneva by saying it was not politically motivated.
Mt Naivalu has told Radio Fiji his vote to Taiwan was for heath reasons which are universal and know no borders.
He has dismissed reports that his support for Taiwan was a diplomatic setback, saying it was a very minor issue.
Mr Naivalu says health and disease control know of no barriers.
Mr Naivalu has denied being briefed by the ministry of foreign affairs before his departure, saying that he gets his briefing from the Prime Minister's Office.
Last Friday, the foreign minister, Kaliopate Tavola, said he would raise the issue with Mr Naivalu who had been briefed on the position to take in Geneva before he left.
Mr Tavola said his ministry was already into damage control mode because two weeks previously Fiji had allowed the Taiwanese president, Chen Shui-bian, to make an overnight stop at Nadi and China had protested strongly.
