China will stop at nothing to prevent Taiwan from participating in the international community. As it fought SARS at home, Taiwan tried the week before last to join the World Health Organization (WHO) as an observer to give it access to information and assistance available to just about every other country. But China once again decided to add insult to injury by blocking Taiwan's bid, thereby demonstrating its blatant disregard for the health of Taiwanese. As if this wasn't enough, China has continued to exert pressure on the WTO to downgrade the status of Taiwan's mission to the world trade body.
China wants to change the title of Taiwan's delegation to the WTO from "permanent mission" to "office," which is the title used by Hong Kong and Macau. It also wants to prevent Taiwanese delegates from using the titles of diplomacy, such as "ambassador" or "consulate." Furthermore, it wants to prevent Taiwan using words that denote sovereignty, such as "Republic of China" and "central government," in WTO documents.
China has repeatedly expressed affection toward the people of Taiwan. But this series of extremely hostile moves on its part has triggered great resentment. The funny thing is that as China's attempts to downgrade the status of Taiwan's WTO delegation came to light, China's Association of Relations Across the Taiwan Strait expressed anger that Taipei had rejected its offer to donate medical supplies for the fight against SARS. It harshly condemned Taiwan for "going back on its word" and "ruthlessly" rejecting the offer, suggesting that it was all the decision of a small, pro-independence faction. It said the development had "seriously injured the relationship between the people on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait."
Leaving aside for one moment the devastation to Taiwan caused by China's concealment of the SARS epidemic, the manner in which Beijing opposed Taiwan's entry bid during the World Health Assembly (WHA) -- with its "no one really cares about you" attitude -- seriously wounded the feelings of Taiwanese, scarring them for life. The move has widened the gap between the two sides.
China sometimes likes to put on a facade of charity, this time offering to donate medical supplies to Taiwan as part of its propaganda campaign to win back the hearts of Taiwanese. It thinks too little of the integrity and pride of Taiwanese. Therefore, the government's rejection of the offer indeed deserves a cheer, as it reflects the common sentiment of the majority of people here. This was most certainly not the decision of a small pro-independence faction.
This country has a population of 23 million, bigger than most other countries. Yet it has been excluded from the international health system as a result of political factors. This contradicts the civilized world's mission to uphold fundamental human rights to medical care across racial groups and national boundaries. The people of Taiwan have without a doubt become the targets of malicious abandonment and serious discrimination.
In particular, as the international community becomes increasingly globalized, not only are communications and contacts between people becoming increasingly convenient, but it is becoming increasingly easy for communicable diseases to reach all corners of the globe. Taiwan has close contact with many countries. If Taiwan's 23 million people continue to be shut out of the world's disease-prevention system, not only will they suffer but the rest of the world will suffer as well. So the WHO's succumbing to Chinese pressure will ultimately hurt more than just the people of Taiwan.
There is no end to Chinese bullying. After Taiwan joined the WTO, it participated in various activities, gradually winning the recognition of other member countries with its performance. The status and treatment of the Taiwanese delegation at the WTO has been the same as for other sovereign countries. This has in turn provoked China's concern and dissatisfaction. China can't even tolerate Taiwan having observer status at the WHO, let alone treatment as a sovereign country within the WTO. Naturally, changing this has become an important goal for China. Therefore, no one should be surprised by Chinese pressure on the WTO Secretariat.
This country has no room to back down. Despite increasing Chinese pressure, the government must stand firm. It is no exaggeration to say that "one more step backward and there will not even be room to die." If Taiwan can't stand up to Beijing in the WTO, where it is an official member, what can Taiwan hope to accomplish in the international community?
It is entirely senseless for Beijing to attack Taiwan in the WTO. When Taiwan was negotiating its entry into the trade body, Beijing tried to obstruct the process. It tried to insert a statement in the report by the accession working party that, based on the "one China" principle, China sought to join as a sovereign country, and Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau are all merely appendix "custom territories" of China. But the attempt failed as a result of US objections.
Therefore, China pressured the WTO in February this year to downgrade the sovereign status of Taiwan by relying on a 1992 declaration of the chairman of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), the WTO's predecessor. The statement essentially indicates that after China joins the WTO, the "Taiwan area" will join under the name of the "Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu," and that under the principle of "one China," Taiwan should hold a status similar to Hong Kong and Macau.
But Beijing's demands contradict both the law and facts. As pointed out by this country's officials, Taiwan's application for accession was based on Article 33 of GATT as an independent customs territory. Hong Kong and Macau acceded through sponsorship under Article 26. The condition of Taiwan's accession was settled at the time of accession. Taiwan will never accept being treated like Hong Kong or Macau.
China is known for its tendency to pick on those smaller and weaker than itself, despite phony talk about morals, virtues and love for its "fellow countrymen." In reality, it is sparing no efforts in trying to push the people of Taiwan into a dead end. Now it is doing everything within its power to dwarf Taiwan's status in the WTO, fabricating the illusion that Taiwan is part of China. Taiwan's role into the international community, be it participation in medical or economic and trade organizations, benefits both itself and others. It is a big loss to the world that Taiwan cannot take a greater part in international activities. Therefore, the international community should show some moral courage and support Taiwan. Facing a bad neighbor like China, besides bravely saying no to it, the people of Taiwan have no other choice.
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