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Lawmaker urges New Zealand to back Taiwan becoming observer at WHA

A New Zealand lawmaker yesterday urged his government to support Taiwan's bid for observer status at the next World Health Assembly, citing worldwide concern over the bird flu epidemic.

Peter Dunne, leader of the United Future party, said he would present a petition on the issue signed by 1,000 people to parliament next week.

"Today, the World Health Organization [WHO] is warning of the imminent danger of a global flu pandemic arising from the bird flu virus, and yet the WHO and its assembly are refusing to allow Taiwan even observer status because they're too afraid of offending the People's Republic of China," he said.

"The people of Taiwan interact constantly with the people of Asia, including those in mainland China," he said. "It is surely in the interests of world [including Chinese] health to keep Taiwan in the loop when it seems we're on the verge of a worldwide health catastrophe."

"It shouldn't be necessary to point out that a flu pandemic won't recognize political or geographical boundaries, should it come. And it is high time the governments of the world exercised some common sense over allowing Taiwan to contribute to the campaign against this major threat to world health."
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