New York boosts WHO bid

On the day that Communist Chinese Vice President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) was visiting, New York State's legislature unanimously passed a resolution Monday calling for Taiwan's observer status in the WHO, something that Hu's government adamantly opposes. "Taiwan's participation in international health forums and programs is critical, especially with today's greater potential for the cross-border spread of various infectious diseases, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), tuberculosis, and malaria," said the resolution introduced by Speaker Sheldon Silver and 68 other senators and assembly people. The legislative resolution applauds the contributions of New York's Taiwanese-American community and decides to join them "in support of the participation of the Republic of China [Taiwan] in the role of observer status in the World Health Organization."