US-based doctors urged to campaign for WHO bid

The deputy representative of Taiwan in the US on Saturday urged Taiwanese medical associations in New York to push for the country's entry in the World Health Organization (WHO).

Lee Ying-yuan (李應元) spoke at the annual meeting of the North American Taiwanese Medical Association and urged members of various Taiwanese medical associations in the metropolitan New York area to exert their influence in the US medical field and at universities to raise awareness of Taiwan's efforts to be admitted into the WHO.

Lee also talked about US-Taiwan relations and the current world situation. He said that the US had thanked Taiwan for its support following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) reacted positively and immediately to the call by the US to contribute to the effort to rid the world of terrorism.

The Taiwanese government donated US$500,000 for victims relief through the Red Cross Society of Taiwan.

It also promised to open its airspace to US military aircraft if necessary and agreed that its Investigation Bureau and National Security Bureau would strengthen information exchanges with the FBI and CIA, according to Lee.

Lee said that he felt that the US and Europe had developed closer ties since the attacks and he said that the US and Asian countries would also deepen their existing bonds.

He stressed that the US government has assured Taiwan that it will not make any deals to the detriment of Taiwan's interests when trying to obtain Beijing's cooperation for anti-terrorist actions, and that both countries' long-term stances based on the ideals of democracy and liberty will not change.

A senior official said Saturday that, barring any unexpected developments, Taiwan will formally become a member of the WTO on Feb. 1.