The legislature yesterday unanimously passed a resolution initiated by the Democratic Pro-gressive Party (DPP) requesting that the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) reconsider a resolution that downgraded Taiwan's status to that of non-sovereign regional member.
"We obtained OIE membership as a member state in 1954. According to the current chapter of the OIE, there is no such category as that of `non-sovereign regional member.' Therefore, the resolution was not legitimate," the legislature's resolution said.
"The OIE should be a professional organization promoting international cooperation on animal health. It should neither discuss nor vote on any political resolution which is in violation of its mandate," the resolution said.
"We are saddened by the fact that the OIE gave in to China's political manipulation and lowered its standards of professionalism in the process," the resolution said.
On May 25, the 169-members of the Paris-based OIE voted in favor of a resolution whereby Taiwan would continue to participate in the OIE albeit as a "non-sovereign regional member" and under the new name "Chinese Taipei."
Taiwan became a member of the OIE under the name Republic of China (Taiwan) in 1954.
It was forced to change its membership name to Taipei China after China joined the organization in 1992.
China, however, remained dissatisfied with the new title for Taiwan.
In an attempt to extract further concessions from the organization it refused to participate in OIE activities and to pay its membership dues.
In reaction, the OIE International Committee adopted a resolution in 2003 to change Taiwan's membership name from Taipei China to Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu.
At that time, Taiwan said it would accept the new name, but Beijing turned down the resolution and did not take part in the final vote on the issue.
Since then, the two sides have been using the membership names that were given them in 1992.
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