MOFA welcomes U.S. support for WHA entrance
June 16, 2004
Taiwan News
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday welcomed U.S. President George W. Bush's signing of a Senate bill yesterday that endorses Taiwan's bid to participate in the World Health Assembly, noting the move rewards those who have put so much effort in pushing for Taiwan's participation.
Bill S2092 was passed unanimously by U.S. Senate on May 6, and came shortly after U.S. assistant secretary James Kelly's publicly stated to the U.S. House of Representatives' international relations committee that U.S. actively support observer status for Taiwan in the WHO, on April 21.
In a statement made yesterday, Bush reiterated the U.S. stance on fully supporting Taiwan's participation in the WHO's operation.
"The United States has expressed publicly its firm support for Taiwan's observer status and will continue to do so, " Bush said.
Under the new law, U.S. secretary of State is required to submit an unclassified report to Congress within 30 days after the bill's passage and before every April 1 elaborating the administration's plans and measures it has adopted in assisting Taiwan's drive toward gaining observer status.
MOFA yesterday responded to the Bush administration's move in a statement saying that Taiwan appreciates U.S. administrative and legislative departments' firm support for the bid, and plans to continually push toward the goal.
Senator George Allen (Republican-Virginia), co-chairman of the U.S. Taiwan caucus, initiated the bill and jointly introduced it with another 12 senators in April, while the House of Representatives passed a similar bill by 416-0 for Taiwan's WHA bid in the same month.
Kelly made it the explicit U.S. policy to support Taiwan's participation in international organizations, either as a member, when possible, or in an appropriate form when membership is not possible, in a statement made on April 21.
He urged the PRC to "adopt a more constructive view on such matters and join in an effort" not to obstruct Taiwan's bid, arguing China's move "is a mistake that only alienates the people of Taiwan."
With China's boycott, Taiwan lost its eighth bid to the WHA observer status by receiving 25 votes early last month, albeit receiving unusual endorsements from the U.S. and Japan.
China yesterday criticized Bush's support for the law, calling it an "erroneous act" that could damage ties between Beijing and Washington.
"Taiwan is a part of China ... and it has no right to join the WHO as its member or quasi-member, nor does it have the right to participate in the WHO's activities," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said.
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