President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) condemned yesterday China's repeated blocking of Taiwan's entry into the World Health Organization (WHO) as a "ruthless, impersonal and unreasonable" action.
"Ironically, China, known internationally as the black hole of epidemic prevention or control, has repeatedly prezvented Taiwan from entering the WHO and from cooperating with the international community on avian flu issues," Chen said.
"The ruthless, impersonal and unreasonable opposition from China has created a serious challenge for Taiwan to join any international organization. This includes entry into the WTO, in which Taiwan has failed nine times."
PHOTO: ICDF FILE PHOTO
Chen added that despite strong opposition from China, Taiwan would continue to actively participate in international affairs under the principles of "peace, democracy and continual progress."
Chen made the remarks during the inauguration ceremony of the International Health and Medical Cooperation Strategic Alliance (IHMCSA), an organization co-founded by the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) and the Nongovernmental Hospitals and Clinics Association, ROC. The alliance was formed to support the government's foreign relations efforts by providing medical services to the international community.
Chen said in his speech that the medical group formed in 1962, when it sent six doctors from military hospitals to Libya to help the country improve its medical skills and reform its medical organizations. The formation of the alliance, he said, is the best example of how non-governmental medical organizations can contribute to the government's humanitarian provision of aid to the international community and help Taiwan garner the support it needs to enter the WHO.
Minister of Foreign Affairs James Huang (
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