While the US believes Taiwan could contribute to the work of the WHO if it were allowed to participate, the government has not yet worked out a strategy to secure a role for Taiwan in this spring's meeting of the World Health Assembly (WHA), the State Department's top Asia policy expert said.
The big problem, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs James Kelly told Congress Thursday, is the opposition of China and other member countries to Taiwan's participation.
Nevertheless, Kelly told a hearing of the House International Relations Committee's subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific that the US has made "some progress" and will consult with WHO member nations in the run-up to this year's WHA assembly, which will be held in Geneva on May 13 to May 17.
He made his comments in response to a question from American Samoa Delegate Eni Faleomavaega, a strong supporter of Taiwan.
"It seems to me that if Taiwan is part of the World Trade Organization, I cannot see why it cannot be part of the WHO," Faleomavaega said.
In response, Kelly said: "We do think Taiwan would be able to contribute and benefit from the work of the World Health Organization, working with the World Health Organization secretariat and members.
"We've made progress to secure some practical participation of Taiwan and we will consult closely in the lead up to the May meeting," Kelly said.
"The decision of exactly how we will work that issue has not been made yet."
Noting that the WHO includes many non-state entities, he said, "that is something that Taiwan could, in fact, add to measurably."
Not mentioning China by name, Kelly noted that the US position "is not shared by many of the members of the WHO, and that's the problem."
Kelly's statement comes just one week after a delegation of Taiwan leaders attending the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington met with the State Department officials and members of Congress, including Faleomavaega, to urge them to support observer status for Taiwan in the WHO.
Delegation members said afterward they were less than happy over the department's commitment on the issue, saying they were told that in light of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Taiwan's WHO participation has taken a lower priority.
The congressional hearing also came two days after a new bill was introduced in the Senate supporting Taiwan's bid for a role in the May Geneva meeting. The bill, sponsored by Democrat Robert Torricelli, is identical to a bill approved by the House by a voice vote late last year. It urges the State Department to develop and pursue a plan to secure Taiwan's participation.
At the hearing, Faleomavaega also asked Kelly about Taiwan's bid to become a part of the Montreal-based International Civil Aviation Organization, another issue the Taiwan delegation to broached at the prayer breakfast.
"Taiwan is one of the main hubs of industry as far as airlines are concerned," he told the hearing, "yet they are not a member of this international organization that controls aviation safety policy."
Kelly said he was not familiar with the issue and was unable to respond.
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