US House unanimously backs Taiwan bid for WHO
The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday unanimously passed an amendment aimed at supporting Taiwan's bid for the World Health Organization.
A press release issued on Wednesday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated the measure's passage demonstrates that the island's ability and willingness to contribute to the international community have been well received.
Taiwan's representative office in the United States also expressed gratitude for the House's friendly gesture. By passing House Resolution 441 by 414-0, the office said, the U.S. government has shown its support for the island, even at this difficult time when tensions in Iraq and North Korea are escalating.
H.R. 441, a bill passed to amend Public Law 107-10, stipulates that the House "authorizes a United States plan to endorse and obtain observer status for Taiwan at the annual summit of the World Health Assembly in May 2003 in Geneva, Switzerland."
It is also specified in the bill that the U.S. Department of State needs to present a report related to the measure to Congress on March 14.
The move by Congress is the latest in a series of bills, resolutions and petitions that members have advanced to express their support for Taiwan to take part in the world body that aims to improve international health standards.
The House measure also recognized Taiwan's most recent contribution to public health care around the world by adding to previous findings that the Taiwan government, in response to an appeal from the United Nations and the United States for resources to control the spread of HIV/AIDS, donated US$1 million to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and
malaria.
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