PFP Legislator Kao Ming-chien (
Kao protested face-to-face to China's Vice Minister of Health Gao Qiang (高強) in the conference to clarify that he was not a member of China's delegation.
Gao, who headed China's delegation to the SARS conference, confirmed on Tuesday that China had recommended Kao to the WHO to attend the conference, which was held in Kuala Lumpur's Sunway Lagoon Resort Hotel on Tuesday and yesterday.
Reporters from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Malaysia asked Gao about details of the WHO's invitation for Kao to attend the conference. Gao said he had no comment as his bodyguards barred reporters from entering a VIP room in a restaurant.
Gao's confirmation of China's recommendation of Kao to the WHO conference drew accusations that Kao had betrayed Taiwan by accepting the WHO's invitation to become one of China's delegates.
While Gao ate lunch, reporters waited for him outside the VIP room. After Gao finished eating, he told reporters he was ready to take questions.
When asked to reaffirm whether China recommended Kao to join the WHO conference, Gao said: "The WHO recommended five Taiwanese experts to join the conference. China agreed to allow the five experts to attend the conference." Gao's answer did not address several key questions about the WHO's invitation.
Gao said on Tuesday China recommended Kao to the WHO to join the conference, but said yesterday the WHO recommended that Kao should be part of the Taiwanese delegation at the conference.
While Gao was speaking, Kao confronted him in the restaurant, holding up a poster with "protest" written in Chinese. Kao also wrote the words "Taiwan, not PROC -- WHO."
"I am a delegate from Taiwan. I am not China's delegate," Kao said. Gao's bodyguards pulled Kao away and Gao quickly walked out of the restaurant.
Kao later said he wanted to protest to Gao about China's recommendation, which has trapped him in serious allegations of treason.
Saying that he was a delegate from Taiwan, Kao emphasized his invitation letter from the WHO was forwarded to him by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
"If the MOFA found the French words referring to the People's Republic of China in the invitation letter unacceptable, why didn't they inform me of the problem before forwarding the letter to me?" Kao asked.
"The whole turbulence caused by the invitation letter was plotted by people with evil intentions in Taiwan. I came here happily to join this conference. Now my good mood has been completely devastated," Kao said.
"Being an experienced clinical doctor, I am so eager to learn and exchange opinions with experts at this conference," Kao said.
He said since he came to the conference, his mobile phone rang almost every five minutes and that almost everyone was asking him whether he was China's or Taiwan's delegate.
"Now I don't even dare to reveal my flight time back to Taiwan because some radicals have threatened to beat me up when I go return to Taiwan," Kao said.
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