Subsequent to the US House of Representatives' approval of a bill supporting Taiwan's entry into the World Health Organization (WHO), the US Senate approved the same bill by consensus. To Taiwan, which has long been excluded from international organizations, this turn of events was good news.
This bill, and another bill approved by the US Senate in April, differ in one important way.
The latter, which requests the US Department of State to report and explain how it supports and assists Taiwan's participation in international organizations, is not legally binding on US executive departments.
The former, which has already been approved by both the US Senate and the House of Representatives, will soon become law, unless vetoed by the US president.
The executive departments must comply with this new law, and the US Secretary of State must report to Congress by Jan. 1 on how the US is helping Taiwan to enter international organizations, especially WHO.
The US State Department has expressed disapproval of the new bill, saying that it decreases the flexibility of diplomatic measures used to assist Taiwan's entry into international organizations. However, unless bound by law, US executive departments may remain passive about helping Taiwan due to pressure from China. The US Congress approved the bill to both clearly indicate US policy and urge that the executive departments implement this policy.
Although all laws require execution by the executive departments, the US is a society governed by law, and even executive departments must comply with the law. The importance of joining WHO lies not only in its function as a stepping stone for Taiwan's entry into other international organizations.
Having a sanitary and healthy medical environment is an essential requirement human dignity and health. However, Taiwan has been long kept out of WHO because the Chinese leadership advocates a "one China policy."
The 22 million people of Taiwan are denied assistance by WHO and unable to assist other countries in improving the health of their people.
Medical treatment and health should not be influenced by politics or unreasonable claims of national sovereignty.
Allowing Taiwan to join WHO would give the Taiwanese equal access to medical treatment and access to health and hygiene information, technologies and resources.
At the same time, a technologically and economically advanced Taiwan could also help other areas of the world resolve their sanitation problems. Taiwan would not only become a beneficiary, but also a contributor.
They say that God helps those who help themselves. The US Congress' approval of this series of bills did not happen by chance.
Taiwan's move to join WHO began with the efforts of private organizations and medical coalitions. The hard work of medical professionals and Taiwanese organizations at home and overseas gradually won the support of others.
Taiwanese who felt strongly about the issue had organized groups to attend the World Health Conference every May and voice our position. In the US, the Formosan American Public Affairs (FAPA), which has kept up lobbying efforts with different segments of the US society, is key to this series of bills.
No matter how China objects, we must do our best.
We are an independent sovereign country. The Taiwanese people ought to have a place in the international community. As long as we work hard as a group, we will eventually win the support of other countries that respect democracy and human rights. This series of bills by the US Congress is just the beginning.
I believe that not far in the future a chain effect will take place and many more countries will support our entry into WHO.
More hard work lies ahead with respect to Taiwan's entry into WHO.
We must not stop our efforts.
Although the hard work of the private organizations has been fruitful, the government needs to put in more effort as well.
Taiwan needs a team that works with government officials to effectively integrate the strength of all segments of our society. I would like to suggest her that we have the president or the Executive Yuan coordinate the Department of Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Academia Sinica, Taiwan Medical Coalition and legislators to establish a special team to push for WHO membership.
Chen Lung-chu is chairman of the Cheng Lung-chu New Century Foundation.
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