The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic has spread rapidly across the world. In the face of the rampant spread of the disease, the Chinese government has not only failed to effectively control the outbreak, but has also intentionally concealed the true situation. It has even obstructed the World Health Organization's (WHO) team from investigating the situation.
Taiwan, on the other hand, immediately informed the WHO and called for help when the disease was first reported here. But the WHO made no response -- completely ignoring the rights and interests of Taiwanese.
The nation's efforts to become an official WHO member or observer have been undermined by China. Last year, China's Minister of Health Zhang Wenkang (張文康) even claimed at a WHO assembly meeting that China can assist Taiwan in health and medical matters. In addition, Beijing has repeatedly claimed that it's taking good care of the health of the Taiwanese people, and it's therefore unnecessary for Taiwan to become a WHO member -- since Beijing already represents us in the organization.
There are obvious discrepancies between these Chinese statements and the real situation. This is proved by a statement made by a WHO official to media in Geneva on March 17, explaining that the WHO was aware of two or three cases of SARS being found in Taiwan. At the same time, the WHO was negotiating with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to have it send specialists to Taiwan to help.
In future, the WHO will continue to cooperate with the CDC to search for and understand the development of the SARS epidemic in Taiwan.
These statements make it abundantly clear that the WHO has not provided Taiwan with any assistance through China, thus exposing as a lie Beijing's statement that China is caring for the health of the people of Taiwan. Blind to these facts, the WHO continues to list Taiwan under the name "China (Taiwan)" in its list of infected areas, thereby treating the nation as a province of China.
When dealing with the health and safety of its own people, domineering China has concealed the situation of the epidemic, which has led to its being spread around the world. When it comes to Taiwan, it places politics above all else, leaving Taiwan outside the WHO and disregarding the health and human rights of the Taiwanese.
John Wang is a TSU lawmaker.
Translated by Eddy Chang and Perry Svensson
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