China tries to pre-empt new WHA bid

Although Taiwan's strategy for the World Health Assembly (WHA) in May has yet to be determined pending today's presidential election, China has taken preemptive action by requesting delegations to the WHO in Geneva to join its effort to block any attempt by Taiwan to seek membership.

In a letter dated earlier this month, Chinese Ambassador to the UN in Geneva Li Baodong (李保東) thanked other governments for their "long-standing support for China on the issue of Taiwan."

He then said that in order to prevent the 61st session of the WHA from "being victimized by politicization," China was inviting other countries to sign a letter to WHO Director-General Margaret Chan (陳馮富珍) "to demonstrate our common objections to any Taiwan-related proposals." A copy of the letter to Chan was enclosed with Li's missive.

The annually WHA is the WHO's highest decision-making body. This year it is scheduled to meet from May 19 to May 24.

In the letter to Chan, China claims that Taiwan-related issues "have no relevance to international public health policies."

Taiwan has been trying to become a WHA observer since 1997 on the grounds that the WHO Charter states that "the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being," and that disease knows no boundaries.

China calls the moves "attempts to politicize the work of the WHO and distract it from its pressing agenda."

Li's letter describes Taiwan as an indivisible part of China and says that the issue has been settled by resolutions of the UN General Assembly as well as the WHA -- claims that Taiwan denies.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs vehemently condemned Beijing yesterday for its attempt to block all Taiwan-related issues from being mentioned in the WHA, and said it would keep close tabs on the situation.

"China's action not only violates international practice, but robs the WHO member-states of the right to propose a resolution," ministry spokeswoman Phoebe Yeh (葉非比) said, adding the ministry would consult the US, Japan, and other friendly nations on the matter.

Last year was the first time that the government applied for membership in the WHO under the name "Taiwan," rather than applying for observer status in the WHA as "Republic of China" as it has done in the past.

The resolution to add the Taiwan bid to the WHA agenda was rejected by a vote of 148-17.