■Health
Japan reaffirms support
Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi reiterated yesterday Tokyo's support for Taiwan's participation in all activities of the World Health Organization (WHO) as an observer. Kawaguchi's comment came after the steering committee of the World Health Assembly (WHA) refused to put Taiwan's bid for observer status on the agenda. "Japan and Taiwan have shared close economic and personnel exchanges, so the Japanese government remains firm in its stance regarding the island country's bid to participate in all WHA activities as an observer," Kawaguchi told a news conference. Speaking at the WHA meeting, Japanese Vice Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Yoshio Kimura said a certain country has not obtained substantive assistance from the WHO in its fight against SARS, thus posing a great impact on its neighboring countries, including Japan.
■ Diplomacy
Africa Day event postponed
The African Day celebration originally scheduled for Friday evening has been postponed in light of the SARS outbreak in the country, according to Ambassador John Cummings of Liberia. The annual event was scheduled to be held at the Grand Formosa Regent in Taipei to commemorate the freedom and unity of African states. "We thank you [invited guests] for your kind understanding and please accept the assurance of our highest consideration," said Malawi Ambassador Eunice Kazembe, chairperson of the African Missions, in a statement. The event will be rescheduled depending on the development of the SARS outbreak, the organizers added.
■ Diplomacy
Envoy set for new role
National policy adviser Lee Tsai-fang (李在方), tipped as the new representative to South Korea, is due to sworn in tomorrow afternoon before taking up his post in Seoul by the end of this month, sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. "I'll leave for Seoul by the end of this month," Lee said prior to a round of intensive meetings at the ministry yesterday afternoon. His predecessor in Seoul, Lee Chung-ru (李宗儒), resigned last month and has been tipped as the new director-general of the ministry's Department of African affairs, the ministry said.
■ Politics
Fan Kuang-chun takes over
Provincial Governor Fan Kuang-chun (范光群) will serve as acting commissioner of Hualien County until a new government chief is elected in three months, Premier Yu Shyi-kun announced yesterday. Yu made the announcement during a visit to the eastern county to pay his respects to Hualien Commissioner Chang Fu-hsing (張福興) who died of lung cancer on Sunday. "As Fan will fulfill the functions of office on a provisional basis, there will not be any major policy shifts nor personnel changes during his stint," Yu said, adding that Fan's main missions will be handling by-election affairs and overseeing the prevention of SARS. Under the terms of the law, a by-election must be held in three months to elect a new commissioner to serve out the tenure left by Chang. Chang took office on Dec. 20, 2001 for a four-year term.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
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