Amid pressure from Beijing, two visiting members of the Interna-tional Federation of Hydrotherapy and Climatotherapy (IFHAC) yesterday voiced their support for Taiwan's membership in the organization during their tour around the country to appraise Taiwan's membership application.
"We are here to appraise hotspring areas throughout Taiwan in order to make some suggestions for improvement. The key purpose is to support Taiwan's admission to IFHAC," Jean Luc Thonnat, one of the five vice presidents of the France-based organization, told the Taipei Times through the assistance of an interpreter.
Thonnat said although Taiwan has done a good job developing hotspring resources for the sake of local tourism, the nation's research efforts on the medical effects of hotsprings are still insufficient.
Invited by the Taiwan Hotspring Association, Thonnat and Dr Guy Ebrard, honorary president of the organization, began their 10-day trip in Taiwan on Saturday.
They met with Vice President Annette Lu (
Ebrand told Lu that he would voice his full support for Taiwan's admission in a timely manner. He also said that as the founder of the foundation his opinions could still carry some weight when the foundation makes its decision.
Because the current president of IFHAC, Dr Nicolai A. Storozhenko from Russia, has voiced support for China's membership, Thonnat admitted their trip to Taiwan was carried out amid pressure from Beijing.
China, a provisional member in the organization, has tried to block Taiwan's entry, involving the research organization in politics.
* Founded in 1938, it represents the interests of thermal spas and climatic resorts and aims to promote them worldwide.
* The foundation also develops the exchange of knowledge on technical and scientific problems relating to hydrotherapy and climatotherapy.
* In 1986 it gained recognition from the World Health Organization.
* Almost 50 countries have membership in the body.
Source: taipei times
Similar pressure from Beijing forced the Korean Hotspring Association to withdraw from a December 1999 scheduled bilateral conference in Taipei on hotspring resources, said Chen Chun-ting (
On April 19, the Taiwan Hotspring Association is scheduled to meet its counterpart in Tokyo to seek Japanese assistance in Taiwan's accession, Chen said.
Chen said he is optimistic about Taiwan's membership prospects.
"Three of the five vice presidents of IFHAC, from South Korea and France as well as Japan, have expressed their support for our membership. The honorary president Dr Ebrard has also shown his support. We're certain success is within our grasp," Chen said.
Chen, who was also present during the visitors' meeting with Lu, said the vice president urged the association to garner support from the foundation's members in a timely manner to assure Taiwan's accession to the organization when IFHAC holds its annual delegates assembly in November.
If realized, sources said Taiwan's entry would boost hotspring-related tourism.
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