If Taiwan experiences an outbreak of disease that might seriously affect public health, the World Health Organization (WHO) will, if necessary, send experts here to give assistance, according to the contents of a memorandum of understanding it signed on May 14 with China.
The memorandum, which is designed to specify a stable mechanism for Taiwan to take part in WHO activities at the technical level, has already been put into effect.
Chang Jung-kung (張榮恭), spokesman and director of the department of mainland China affairs of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), said yesterday that he has just obtained the contents of the memorandum through China's institutions in charge of Taiwan affairs.
According to Chang, the important contents of the memorandum say that the aim of the memorandum is to help Taiwan's medical and public-health experts attend the technical exchange activities held by the WHO Secretariat, while adhering to the UN Charter and the WHO's goals and organization rules.
Additionally, the exchanges will mainly touch on three kinds of issues:
First, the WHO Secretariat can invite Taiwan's medical and public health experts to individually attend its technical activities. If necessary, Taiwan's experts can say they come from "Taiwan, China."
Second, the WHO Secretariat can send its staff and experts to Taiwan to examine the public health and contagious disease situation, as well as discuss health issues with Taiwan's medical and public health experts and provide medical and public health technical assistance.
Third, if Taiwan faces a serious outbreak, the WHO Secretariat will, if necessary, send experts to Taiwan as soon as possible and give technical assistance, or invite Taiwan's medical and public health experts to join technical activities initiated by the secretariat.
According to Chang, the memorandum also says that this is a special arrangement in the absence of an agreement between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait on relevant matters. The two sides are encouraged to hold talks and jointly find an appropriate means for Taiwan to join the WHO as soon as possible.
The government has previously voiced opposition to the memorandum.
Hou Sheng-mou (
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also said that Beijing has no right to unilaterally hold consultations and make arrangements with the WHO for Taiwan's participation in the global health body's activities, and has said that the government cannot accept any arrangement that might downgrade the nation's status.
Sha Zukang (
"Therefore, China will first sign a memorandum of understanding with the WHO as a special arrangement prior to an agreement between Taipei and Beijing," he said.
also see story:
MAC official blasts KMT over health memorandum
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday said it expected to issue a sea warning for Typhoon Fung-Wong tomorrow, which it said would possibly make landfall near central Taiwan. As of 2am yesterday, Fung-Wong was about 1,760km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, moving west-northwest at 26kph. It is forecast to reach Luzon in the northern Philippines by tomorrow, the CWA said. After entering the South China Sea, Typhoon Fung-Wong is likely to turn northward toward Taiwan, CWA forecaster Chang Chun-yao (張峻堯) said, adding that it would likely make landfall near central Taiwan. The CWA expects to issue a land
Taiwan’s exports soared to an all-time high of US$61.8 billion last month, surging 49.7 percent from a year earlier, as the global frenzy for artificial intelligence (AI) applications and new consumer electronics powered shipments of high-tech goods, the Ministry of Finance said yesterday. It was the first time exports had exceeded the US$60 billion mark, fueled by the global boom in AI development that has significantly boosted Taiwanese companies across the international supply chain, Department of Statistics Director-General Beatrice Tsai (蔡美娜) told a media briefing. “There is a consensus among major AI players that the upcycle is still in its early stage,”
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday said it is expected to issue a sea warning for Typhoon Fung-wong this afternoon and a land warning tomorrow. As of 1pm, the storm was about 1,070km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, and was moving west-northwest at 28 to 32kph, according to CWA data. The storm had a radius of 250km, with maximum sustained winds of 173kph and gusts reaching 209kph, the CWA added. The storm is forecast to pass near Luzon in the Philippines before entering the South China Sea and potentially turning northward toward Taiwan, the CWA said. CWA forecaster Chang Chun-yao (張峻堯) said
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi yesterday said that China using armed force against Taiwan could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, allowing the country to mobilize the Japanese armed forces under its security laws. Takaichi made the remarks during a parliamentary session while responding to a question about whether a "Taiwan contingency" involving a Chinese naval blockade would qualify as a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, according to a report by Japan’s Asahi Shimbun. "If warships are used and other armed actions are involved, I believe this could constitute a survival-threatening situation," Takaichi was quoted as saying in the report. Under Japan’s security legislation,
RSS