The 192-nation World Health Assembly Monday accepted by
consensus the recommendation of their General Committee that it
refuse to take Taiwan's tenth bid for observer status at the United
Nations health agency to a vote.
The assembly is the supreme decision-making body of the World
Health Organization (WHO). It normally meets in Geneva in May each
year and is attended by delegations from all member states. Its
main function is to determine policy matters.
The Chinese delegation explained that observer status was
reserved for sovereign nations. As Taiwan was part of China it was
not eligible for such status.
"The essence of this issue is not health but politics," said
Minister of Health Gao Qiang. "The motive has remained the same.
And that's to split China. A small number of countries are tabling
the proposal with the pretext of caring for the health of the
people in Taiwan," Gao said. "We oppose making use of health issues
to seek Taiwan independence."
But Gao Qiang also said the Chinese government would continue
its support for Taiwan compatriots to participate in the technical
activities of the WHO.
"We support experts from Taiwan participating in the WHO's
technical activities and help the region receive timely and
accurate international information and technical assistance on
health matters," Gao told the 59th World Health Assembly.
"We are determined to do, and do well, all the things which will
benefit the health and well-being of the Taiwan compatriots," the
minister said at the annual conference which was attended by all
192 WHO members.
Gao recalled that last May a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
was signed between China and the WHO to assist health experts from
Taiwan participate in the WHO's technical activities.
In accordance with the MoU the WHO can invite health experts
from Taiwan to participate in its technical activities and send
staff and experts there to investigate and assist with health
issues. For severe public health emergencies the WHO can send staff
and experts to Taiwan for field visits and the provision of
technical health assistance.
"The facts have proved that with the implementation of the MoU
very favorable conditions have been created for effectively
engaging Taiwan medical and health experts in the technical work of
the WHO,” Gao said.
He noted that since the MoU had been signed 10 expert groups
from Taiwan had participated in WHO technical activities covering a
range of health subjects. "We will energetically and
conscientiously implement the MoU and help health experts from
Taiwan conduct more technical exchanges with the WHO," Gao
said.
Taiwan applied for observer status at the WHO as a "health
entity" claiming closer links with the UN agency would help it
fight any disease outbreaks. But Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu
Jianchao said last week that given the established framework for
allowing Taiwanese health experts' participation in WHO technical
activities there were no "missing links" caused by Taiwan's current
level of participation.
For five consecutive years prior to 2002 Taiwan tried
unsuccessfully to become a member of the WHO using the name "the
Republic of China" and tried again as a "health entity."
(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily May 23, 2006)