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Premier Yu decries WHO putting Taiwan in China

Premier Yu Shyi-kun and TSU lawmakers yesterday protested the World Health Organization's (WHO) listing of Taiwan as one of China's provinces in its official documents.

As Taiwan is not a member of the organization, it is categorized as a part of China when WHO releases health-related news or documents concerning Taiwan.

During an inspection tour in Nantou, the premier said Taiwan and China are two different countries, which have resorted to utterly different prevention and treatment measures to contain the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

No SARS-related deaths have been reported in Taiwan thus far, although about 100 suspected cases have been reported, 13 of which are considered "probable."

No nation has been more severely affected by the outbreak of SARS than China.

According to the Chinese Ministry of Health yesterday, 1,190 cases were reported in the country, 46 of which have been fatal.

Yu said it runs counter to the nation's interests when the WHO combines China and Taiwan, because such an action will affect the country's tourism industry and economy.

He said WHO officials have praised Taiwan's epidemic prevention efforts, and that it would benefit the organization if the country could become a member.

In a related development, TSU legislative whip Chien Lin Hui-chun (錢林慧君) called on the government to suspend the "three small links" with China to curb transmission of the disease.
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