Chiang said that as a former diplomat he sincerely congratulated the government on the breakthrough, but added that the possibility of a hidden agenda should not be ignored.
DPP Legislator Twu Shiing-jer (涂醒哲) meanwhile lashed out at Ma for attributing the invitation to the “goodwill of the mainland authorities” before mentioning support from the international community.
This was not only indicative of the government’s eagerness to curry favor with China, but also a slight to Taiwanese sovereignty and dignity, Twu said.
On Wednesday, Ma said the government’s efforts had finally yielded results, saying three key factors had led to the invitation: the efforts of the public and all political parties, the goodwill of China and strong support from the international community, including the US, Japan, the EU, Southeast Asian countries, New Zealand and Australia.
Chinese Health Ministry Spokesman Mao Qunan (毛群安) said on Wednesday that the arrangement was a sign of growing cross-strait rapprochement and an indication of China’s “goodwill.”
Twu said it was ridiculous for Ma, in his capacity as president, to praise China for making a goodwill gesture by allowing the nation to participate in the WHA when obstruction from China that Taiwan had been behind Taiwan’s inability to participate in the WHA in the past.
“Why should we thank a hooligan that used to bully us every day just because he has not bullied us as harshly as before or because we changed our name?” Twu said.
Ma, however, said yesterday that Taiwan’s participation in the WHA under the name “Chinese Taipei” would not diminish Taiwan’s status, as the outcome outweighed details such as the national title used in the assembly.
At a press conference at the Presidential Office yesterday, Ma said the name Taiwan would use, Zhonghua Taibei (中華台北), was the same as its designation at the WTO and APEC.
Zhonghua Taibei is the Chinese translation for “Chinese Taipei.”
“It is not Zhongguo Taibei (中國台北), which literally means ‘China, Taipei,’” Ma said. “More importantly, we participate with dignity, flexibility, practicality and autonomy.”
While some have criticized the annual application for WHA observer status, Ma said all partcipants in the WHA received annual invitations, whether they are considered countries, groups, WHO members or observers.
At a separate setting yesterday, DPP Caucus Whip Lee Chun-yi (李俊毅) said the latest development was not the “major breakthrough” the government claimed, because it came at the expense of Taiwan’s agreement to Beijing’s “one China” framework and acceptance of the arrangement in the memorandum of understanding signed between China and the WHO in 2005 to treat Taiwan as under China’s jurisdiction.
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