Print

Mail

wiki links

Kao's visit not official: DOH chief

Some TSU supporters yesterday quarrel with a PFP official during their protest in front of the PFP's headquarters in Taipei against PFP Legislator Kao Ming-chien's participation in a WHO-sponsored conference. Kao was allegedly recommended for an invitation by China. PHOTO: FANG PIN-CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES

Department of Health Director-General Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) yesterday said since PFP lawmaker Kao Ming-chien (高明見) has not participated in Taiwan's battle against SARS, his invitation to the WHO-held anti-SARS meeting in Kuala Lumpur was not recommended by the government.

"He is neither a member of Taiwan's delegation, nor did his remarks concerning Taiwan's anti-SARS efforts represent the government of Taiwan," Chen said yesterday.

The DPP yesterday also lambasted the PFP for allowing Kao to attend the WHO Global Conference on SARS in Kuala Lumper at China's invitation.

"We deeply regret that Kao attended the SARS conference with an invitation under the title of People's Republic of China. The PFP has seriously hurt the national dignity of Taiwan," DPP Deputy Secretary-General Lee Ying-yuan (李應元) said.

Lee made the statements yesterday at a press conference in response to Kao's attendance of the SARS conference after the DPP's Central Standing Committee meeting

Kao accepted a WHO invitation which indicates in French that Kao is from the People's Republic of China.

The DPP said that Kao, a neuro-surgeon, was invited by the WHO at the behest of China.

Kao arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Monday to attend the SARS meeting.

Four members of Taiwan's official delegation had also received invitations with their title under the PRC, but the four members immediately protested to the WHO about the wording of the invitations.

The WHO delivered new invitations through e-mail without putting their titles under the PRC, while Kao seems to have accepted the invitation that indicated that Taiwan was a part of the PRC without protesting.

DPP Legislator Lin Chou-shui (林濁水) said, "It is obvious that China wanted to invite Kao to reward his efforts for holding the anti-SARS videoconferences across the Taiwan Strait in May.

"Those videoconferences have become a propaganda tool for China to prove it is providing care and assistance to Taiwan in the battle against SARS.

"This resulted in Taiwan losing its bid to become a member of the World Health Assembly in Geneva last month."

Lee pointed out that while the PFP-KMT alliance has actively promoted "Taiwan Priority" as a major focus for the 2004 presidential campaign, the PFP and Kao's behavior has contradicted their message and shown that they are staunch followers of China.

Lee questioned whether Kao was attending the SARS conference in an attempt to realize PFP Chairman James Soong's (宋楚瑜) promise that he could enable Taiwan to join the WHO under the "one China" framework within two years if he and KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) won the presidential election.

"Soong has to make clear if Kao was acting as an advance party on behalf of Soong to show his docility to China and whether his so-called `one China' framework refers to the PRC or the ROC?" Lee asked.

In response to PFP spokesman Huang Yih-jiau's (黃義交) claim that Kao was not to blame for taking the invitation under China's title because Taiwan is a province of China under the WHO's framework, Lee said the PFP shouldn't have regarded the WHO's arrangement as its top priority.

"It is the difference of whether or not the individual bears the conscience for Taiwan as a nation, and puts Taiwan's interests as a priority," Lee said.
This story has been viewed 2020 times.