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Taiwan fails to be added to WHA list

Activists from Taiwan hold banners and chant slogans at a square outside the World Health Assembly in Geneva yesterday demanding Taiwan's accession to the World Health Organization. PHOTO: WANG MIN-WEI, TAIPEI TIMES

The addition of Taiwan's application to the World Health Assembly's (WHA) agenda met with heated debate on the summit floor yesterday afternoon as the conference convened, with nations speaking for and against Taiwan in turn.

However, as of press time yesterday, at least 24 nations were still on the list of speakers. Beginning with Gambia, Taiwan's diplomatic allies, including the Solomon islands, Nicauragua, Chad and Belize, spoke in support of the addition of the Taiwan issue to the agenda.

"Small or large, rich or poor, we all dine at the table of knowledge," said Belize's delegate while addressing the assembly, expressing the need for the exchange of resources and experiences in health care.

"Nothing can be politically right that is morally wrong," cautioned the St. Vincent and Grenadines delegate.

In its speech opposing Taiwan's application, China warned Taiwan's supporters that standing with Taiwan on the WHA bid was a challenge to the "One China" policy.

"This is an internal affair that should be decided by the Chinese. Nobody can interfere," said China's chief delegate, Excutive Minister of Health Gao Qiang (高強).

In addition, the number of nations that spoke on behalf of Taiwan during the 25-member General Committee that took place ahead of the health assembly saw 31 nations opposing Taiwan's bid and 16 supporting the application.

"Last year Sha Zhukang (沙祖康)said `who cares about Taiwan?' Well, the goal of this year's vote will be to make sure that no one dares to not care about Taiwan. Even if you don't recognize Taiwan, you cannot neglect Taiwan," the Director of the Taipei Representative Office in France Shen Lyu-shun (沈呂巡) said.

The General Committee meeting ended with no vote on the issue, and Taiwan was not added to the agenda by the General Committee.

As of press time yesterday, Taiwan had not been added to the agenda, but it is anticipated that diplomatic allies will propose a vote on the addition of Taiwan to the agenda.

Meanwhile, Taiwanese delegates, led by Department of Health Director Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) were asked to leave seats reserved for the press because they held passes that granted entry only to the public gallery. However, American public gallery pass holders were not asked to leave the area.

China also expressed its opposition to Taiwan's application yesterday. Sha Zhukang, Chinese Ambassador to the Permanent Mission in Geneva told Taiwanese reporters yesterday that if Taiwan accepted the "one China" policy, there would be no problems with WHO membership.

"Taiwan is [Chinese] territory, a province of China. Under this principle, all can be solved," Sha said.

"China takes care of Taiwan," he said, "There is no need for Taiwan to enter the WHO."

He further stated that Taiwanese experts could join China's WHA delegation.

However, the significance of the vote that had not yet been proposed as of press time yesterday is does not lie in its results, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials.
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