China's unilateral inclusion of Taiwanese ports in its International Health Regulations (IHR)-certified port list would only expose its inability to fulfill its duty under the IHR, a Taiwanese official said.
Shen Lyu-shun (沈呂巡), director of the Taipei Cultural and Economic Office in Switzerland, made the remarks after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) complained on Friday about the recent posting of China's IHR-certified port list on the WHO Web site.
HEALTH RISKS
The WHO-sponsored IHR 2005 lays out a new legal framework for the global community to better manage its collective defenses against acute international public health risks that could have potentially devastating impacts on human health and adverse effects on trade and travel.
It requires that all signatories report and address public health emergencies of international concern.
Noting that the port listing issue is yet another example of China's relentless political suppression of Taiwan on the world stage, Shen said China's inclusion of Taiwanese ports in its IHR port list was totally unacceptable.
Although Taiwan is neither a WHO member nor an IHR signatory, it voluntarily declared its commitment to abiding by relevant regulations in May last year.
After the IHR took effect on June 15 this year, Taiwan again informed the WHO Secretariat, WHO member countries' representative offices in Geneva and international media outlets of the nation's determination to observe IHR provisions and China's illegitimacy and inability to represent Taiwan in IHR enforcement.
STANCE
According to Shen, Taiwan has on many occasions expressed its stance on the issue.
None of Beijing's unilateral moves aimed at undermining Taiwan's sovereign status and legitimate rights and interests will be acceptable or recognized by Taiwan, he said.
Since the unveiling of the IHR 2005, Shen said Taiwan has issued 166 port health certificates in accordance with IHR provisions, proving that China is incapable of representing Taiwan in implementing IHR regulations.
In Taipei, MOFA officials said the ministry has ordered its representative office in Geneva to lodge a protest with the WHO over the placement of Taiwanese ports on the list of certified ports in China.
Such a move not only affects Taiwanese people's rights but could also cause confusion and difficulty for international merchant shipping and maritime transport operators, MOFA acting spokeswoman Phoebe Yeh (
Because of China's opposition, Taiwan has been shut out of the WHO and its decision-making World Health Assembly, leaving a gap in the global epidemic control and health care network.
SUPPRESSION
Yeh said China has spared no effort to suppress Taiwan, even in public health affairs.
In September, she said, China blocked the WHO from directly informing Taiwan of the suspected contamination of a shipment of Thai corn on the grounds that all WHO data and information should be passed to Taiwan via Beijing.
China did not inform Taiwan until two weeks later.
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