A group of lawmakers will leave for England and France today in a bid to seek support for the nation's attempt to join the WHO.
"We'll endeavor to seek their support for our bid," said DPP Legislator Parris Chang (
Efforts to gain membership of WHO began in 1997, with the focus in recent years on obtaining observer status at the WHO's top decision-making body, the World Health Assembly (WHA).
The bid was given a boost last year when both the US and Japan voiced their support for WHA observership, although European countries including France and Spain voiced reservations.
KMT Legislator Chiang Yi-wen (
Lawmakers also said the British are paying special attention to the delegation's visit in view of a recent resolution in the Legislative Yuan calling for a one-year ban on sales of alcoholic beverages by British Diageo PLC.
The legislature passed the non-binding resolution last month after the British company launched a Smirnoff ad campaign in London that lawmakers say damaged Taiwan's image.
Diageo has formally apologized for the controversial campaign and has placed new ads in London which focus on a positive image of Taiwan.
"We'll see how to best handle the case," Chang said.
KMT Legislator Sun Kauo-hwa (孫國華) said the London trip has gained "special" significance now that both members of the House of Commons and the Foreign and the Commonwealth Office (FCO) have agreed to meet with the delegation.
Donald Anderson, chairman of the parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, and Martin O'Neill, chairman of its Trade and Industry Select Committee will meet with the delegation, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Sir Nicholas Winterton, co-chair of the British Taiwan parliamentary group, will also receive the delegation, the ministry said, while some FCO officials are also scheduled to meet with the delegation informally.
However, the delegation will not visit the French parliament because it is in recess, lawmakers said.
The delegation also includes DPP Legislator Hilo Bi-him (
The delegation will visit think tanks in England and Paris, including the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, lawmakers said.
Meanwhile, Martin O'Neill is slated to arrive in Taipei on Feb. 18 for a four-day visit.
The foriegn ministry said that during his stay O'Neill will meet with Legislative Yuan Vice Speaker Chiang Ping-kun (
SPACE VETERAN: Kjell N. Lindgren, who helps lead NASA’s human spaceflight missions, has been on two expeditions on the ISS and has spent 311 days in space Taiwan-born US astronaut Kjell N. Lindgren is to visit Taiwan to promote technological partnerships through one of the programs organized by the US for its 250th national anniversary. Lindgren would be in Taiwan from Tuesday to Saturday next week as part of the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ US Speaker Program, organized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said in a statement yesterday. Lindgren plans to engage with key leaders across the nation “to advance cutting-edge technological partnerships and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers,”
UNREASONABLE SURVEILLANCE: A camera targeted on an road by a neighbor captured a man’s habitual unsignaled turn into home, netting him dozens of tickets The Taichung High Administrative Court has canceled all 45 tickets given to a man for failing to use a turn signal while driving, as it considered long-term surveillance of his privacy more problematic than the traffic violations. The man, surnamed Tseng (曾), lives in Changhua County and was reported 45 times within a month for failing to signal while driving when he turned into the alley where his residence is. The reports were filed by his neighbor, who set up security cameras that constantly monitored not only the alley but also the door and yard of Tseng’s house. The surveillance occurred from July
A Japan Self-Defense Forces vessel entered the Taiwan Strait yesterday, Japanese media reported. After passing through the Taiwan Strait, the Ikazuchi was to proceed to the South China Sea to take part in a joint military exercise with the US and the Philippines, the reports said. Japan Self-Defense Force vessels were first reported to have passed through the strait in September, 2024, with two further transits taking place in February and June last year, the Asahi Shimbun reported. Yesterday’s transit also marked the first time since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took office that a Japanese warship has been sent through the Taiwan
‘SAME OLD TRICK’: Even if Beijing resumes individual travel to Taiwan, it would only benefit Chinese tourism companies, the Economic Democracy Union convener said China’s 10 new “incentives” are “sugar-coated poison,” an official said yesterday, adding that Taiwanese businesses see them clearly for what they are, but that Beijing would inevitably find some local collaborators to try to drums up support. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, made the remark ahead of a news conference the General Chamber of Commerce is to hold today. The event, titled “Industry Perspectives on China’s Recent Pro-Taiwan Policies,” is expected to include representatives from industry associations — such as those in travel, hotels, food and agriculture — to request the government cooperate with China’s new measures, people familiar with
RSS