A: This is the fifth year that the ROC has sought to participate in the WHO. As a result of extreme political interference from the Chinese mainland, this professional health organization has yet to grant Taiwan observer status. In recent years, however, support from the international community for Taiwan's participation in the WHO has increased. For instance, the US Congress passed a law in 1999 requiring the president to submit an action plan to support Taiwan's participation in the WHO. In 2001, the US Senate and House of Representatives passed another law, which was signed by President Bush as Public Law 107-10. It authorized the Secretary of State to submit a plan to help Taiwan obtain observer status at the 2001 World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, and instructed the US delegation to implement that plan. However, the law was not signed in time for implementation. In Geneva, on May 16, 2001, US Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy G. Thompson publicly announced his support for Taiwan's participation in the WHO. The European Parliament also passed a resolution supporting the ROC's participation in international organizations. In addition, the Nordic Medical Associations passed a resolution in 2001 supporting Taiwan's participation in the WHO. The Council of the World Medical Association passed a resolution supporting observer status for the ROC in the WHO. Many other major newspapers and journals in the West have published articles supporting Taiwan's observer status to the WHO. The international community's support for Taiwan's participation in the WHO is as follows:

1. In July 1996, the European Parliament passed a resolution supporting Taiwan's role in international organizations
2. In 1999, the Czech Parliament supported Taiwan's obtaining observer status in the WHO.
3. In June 1999, the Chairman of the International Society of Chemotherapy, Dr. Tom Bergan, wrote to Director General Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland of the WHO twice, urging the WHO to give Taiwan observer status.
4. In August 1999, the parliament of Guatemala passed Resolution 15-99 supporting Taiwan's participation in international organizations such as the United Nations, and the WHO.
5. In December 1999, US President Bill Clinton signed a bill which was unanimously passed by the US Senate and House of Representatives to support Taiwan's participation in the WHO.
6. In January 2000, 52 parliamentarians of the British House of Commons signed a pledge to support Taiwan's participation in the WHO as an observer.
7. In January 2000, the British Medical Association wrote to the British Parliament to support Taiwan's participation in the WHO as an observer.
8. In May 2000, the Athen's Medical Association wrote to the Greek Minister of Health and Welfare, encouraging the Greek government to facilitate Taiwan's observer status in the WHO.
9. In October 2000, the Brazil Nurses Association proposed to the 2001 International Council of Nurses their support for Taiwan's participation in the WHO.
10. The US Senate passed Bill 428, supporting Taiwan's participation in the WHO as an observer.
11. In May 2001, US President George Bush signed Public Law 107-10, authorizing the US Secretary of State to submit a plan to help Taiwan obtain observer status at the 2001 World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, and instructed the US delegation to implement that plan.
12. In Geneva, May 2001, the US Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson publicly announced his support for Taiwan's participation in the WHO.
13. In May 2001, Canadian parliamentarian Svend Robinson wrote to the Canadian Foreign Minister John Manley, urging him to support Taiwan's participation in the WHO.
14. In August 2001, the Nordic Medical Association passed a resolution supporting Taiwan's participation in the WHO.
15. In September 2001, the European Medical Association passed a resolution to support Taiwan's participation in the WHO.
16. In September 2001, the Council of the World Medical Association passed a resolution supporting observer status for Taiwan in the WHO.
17. In November 2001, the US House of Representatives passed an amendment to Public Law 107-10, continuing to support Taiwan for observer status in the 2002 World Health Assembly.