Taiwan’s participation at an annual meeting of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) as a “non-sovereign regional member” for the first time proceeded “smoothly” and on an equal basis with other member countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.
Ministry spokeswoman Phoebe Yeh (葉非比) described Taiwan’s attendance at the 76th General Session of the OIE’s International Committee in Paris from May 25 to Friday as “smooth” and said no political dispute resulted from the participation of both Taiwanese and Chinese representatives.
Taiwan, one of 172 official members of the OIE, gained accession to the global animal health regulatory group in 1954 under the name “Republic of China (Taiwan).”
The name was changed to “Taipei China” after Beijing was admitted to the organization in 1992 and was changed again to “Chinese Taipei” last year after Chinese pressure.
Yeh said this year’s meeting served as a test of how Taiwan can interact with China in the international arena while protecting its own rights.
She said that as a permanent member, Taiwan has every right to participate in OIE meetings on an equal footing with other member states.
The ministry will continue to closely monitor how Taiwan fares at the OIE in the future after having its status changed last year to “non-sovereign regional member,” she said.
The arrangement came following consultations among delegates from the US, Japan and the EU in the face of China’s efforts to downgrade Taiwan.
Watson Sung (宋華聰), director-general of the Council of Agriculture’s Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine, led Taiwan’s delegation at the OIE meeting.
China has waged a protracted battle over Taiwan’s status since 1992, when it joined the OIE.
Even though Taiwan’s official name in the OIE was changed at the time to “Taipei China,” Beijing remained dissatisfied and refused to participate in OIE activities or pay its membership fees.
To try to resolve the problem, the OIE International Committee adopted a resolution in 2003 to change Taiwan’s membership name from “Taipei China” to “Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu.”
Taiwan agreed to the new designation, but China refused and did not take part in the final vote on the issue.
China has regularly blocked Taiwan’s participation in international organizations and refuses to acknowledge its sovereignty.
The OIE, founded in 1924, is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to controlling and preventing animal disease.
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