The Office of the President on April 12 held a press conference to detail the nation's efforts at seeking entry for Taiwan in the World Health Organization. Secretary-General to the President Chiou I-jen presided over the press conference, while Foreign Minister James C. F. Huang and Health Minister Hou Sheng-mou were also in attendance.
In remarks to the gathering, Secretary-General Chiou said that the government is adopting a three-pronged approach this year in its efforts to participate in the WHO. He said that in the past, the ROC (Taiwan) government both sought to obtain observer status at the World Health Assembly and hoped for significant participation in a number of technical conferences held under the auspices of the WHO. This year, he said, the government will continue with these two approaches. However, it will add a third measure this year in which President Chen Shui-bian will directly send a letter to WHO Director-General Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun. The letter will express Taiwan's hope to apply to become a member of the organization under the name "Taiwan."
Presidential Secretary-General Chiou stressed that local public opinion polls have showed that up to 94.9% of the Taiwan public supports the nation's entry as a member of the WHO and that Taiwan should enter the organization under the name "Taiwan." He also said that over half of the members of the Legislative Yuan have put their names to a bill calling for the government to seek membership in the organization rather than only observer status. Presidential Secretary-General Chiou said that efforts over the years to obtain entry into the WHO have failed due to pressure exhibited by China. He said the government feels that adding another approach, namely the personal letter by President Chen to the WTO director-general expressing Taiwan's request to become a formal member of the WHO using the name "Taiwan," will be of use in conjunction with the other efforts.
Meanwhile, Presidential Secretary-General Chiou expressed his deepest appreciation on behalf of President Chen and the 23 million residents of Taiwan to Taiwan's diplomatic allies and friends in the international community that have provided support for Taiwan in its efforts to obtain entry into the WHO.