Sun, Jun 01, 2003 page2

• Soong's proposed WHO plan gets criticized heavily

  EXPRESSED MISGIVINGS Analysts say the claims of participation in the world health body within two years are likely to be only detrimental to the country

  • By Monique Chu / STAFF REPORTER
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  Analysts yesterday questioned PFP Chairman James Soong's (宋楚瑜) claim that he could secure Taipei's participation in the World Health Organization (WHO) two years after taking office, with some saying his proposal could degrade Taipei's position.

  Ambassador-at-large Ken Chiu (邱晃泉) expressed misgivings over Soong's proposal outside of a panel discussion on Taiwan's WHO bid yesterday afternoon.

  "If what Soong means is to allow Taiwan to become a participant in WHO attached to China, it would be very insulting for the country," Chiu said. "It'll simply downgrade Taiwan's status to a 100 percent local government under Beijing's supervision."

  Soong said on Friday he's confident of securing Taiwan's participation in the WHO under the "one China" framework two years after he takes office, although he failed to offer details on his plan.

  The government has declined to fight for its WHO participation either as an associate member or as a non-governmental organization because the two options, according to WHO regulations, would require Beijing's consent.

  Some analysts fear the two options would only add weight to Beijing's claim that Taiwan is a renegade province.

  Lin Shih-chia (林世嘉), executive director of the Foundation of Medical Professionals Alliance in Taiwan, shared Chiu's concerns.

  China has blocked Taiwan's application to become an observer at the World Health Assembly (WHA), the top-decision making body of the WHO, seven years in a row.

  Chiu said the country should drop its bid for WHA observership to seek WHO membership.

  Wu Chih-chung (吳志中), a political analyst from Soochow University, said it's time to go for WHO membership because applying as a sovereign state would safeguard national dignity.

  Whether Taiwan applies for WHO membership as a sovereign state or seeks WHA observership, Beijing would sabotage these moves anyway, Wu said.

  Chiang Huang-chih (姜皇池), an associate professor of law at National Taiwan University, had reservations about the proposal.

  "I fear this would trigger unnecessary quarrels," Chiang said, echoing the sentiments of a number of analysts.
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