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Nation makes it through briefing unscathed

"Gao was very humble. He did not mention a word about Taiwan in his report. This is a very good development. I hope this positive interaction [between the two sides] can continue."

Su Ih-jen, Center for Disease Control director-general

Taiwan's delegation to the World Health Organization's (WHO) Global Conference on SARS in Kuala Lumpur breathed a sigh of relief yesterday as China avoided using the forum to attack Taipei.

To the delight of the delegation, headed by Center for Disease Control (CDC) Director-General Su Ih-jen (蘇益仁), China did not mention Taiwan during a presentation on its "national response" to SARS.

The conference's opening ceremony kicked off at 9am and was followed by sessions entitled "Global Response to SARS," "Regional Response to SARS" and "National Response to SARS."

During the national response session, five countries -- China, Vietnam, Singapore, Canada and the US -- and one region -- Hong Kong -- spent about 15 minutes each describing their handling of the disease.

China was the first country to report at the national response session. China's Vice Minister of Health Gao Qiang (高強) led the country's delegation to the conference.

Gao, who was seated in the front row during the conference's morning sessions, gave a briefing on the SARS situation in his country in Chinese, with English translation.

Meanwhile, Su and Ho Mei-shang (何美鄉), two of Taiwan's SARS experts invited to the conference, were seated behind China's delegation at the opening ceremony.

Malaysian Health Minister Dato' Chua Jui Meng and Dr. Shigeru Omi (尾身茂), director of the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, presided over the opening ceremony.

The media surrounded Gao during the break after the opening ceremony. When asked about the WHO's invitations of Taiwanese experts to the conference, Gao reiterated that the WHO invited the experts under China's agreement.

"Of China's 38 experts at the conference, 20 of them are from Hong Kong, 14 from mainland China and four are from Taiwan," Gao said, apparently excluding PFP Legislator Kao Ming-chien (高明見) in Taiwan's total.

Nevertheless, Gao avoided mentioning Taiwan during his presentation of China's national response to SARS and limited his address to the situation in China.

Su, who was watching to see whether China would say anything to damage Taiwan's status, stepped onto the stage to shake hands with Gao to express his goodwill after the speech.

"Gao was very humble. He did not mention a word about Taiwan in his report. This is a very good development. I hope this positive interaction [between the two sides] can continue," Su said.

Su said he had prepared a speech to correct Gao if he said anything to affect Taiwan's national status. Su said he was prepared to force his way on stage to deliver his message if Gao had done so.

After listening to Gao's speech, Su approached Gao to congratulate him.

"Why did I congratulate him? There are two reasons. First, China has really improved in its control of the disease. Second, as Gao has shown such respect for Taiwan, we should give him proper encouragement," Su said.

Although Gao did not mention Taiwan in his speech, the brochures printed by China's Ministry of Health to introduce China's SARS situation listed Taiwan as a province of China.

While China's brochures were allowed to be placed on counters outside the conference room for participants to take, WHO staff refused to let Taiwanese officials place their SARS brochures on nearby counters.

Meanwhile, PFP Legislator Kao Ming-chien (高明見), who was recommended by China to join the conference, said he was unaware of China's recommendation in advance.

Facing accusations from the pan-green camp that he betrayed Taiwan by accepting the WHO's invitation on China's recommendation, Kao said he had been wronged.
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