President Chen Shui-bian on the afternoon of April 10 chaired a national security meeting at the Presidential Office. The president was briefed on the strategies and plans by the related government agencies in relation to Taiwan's application to enter the World Health Organization (WHO). After listening to the opinions of and discussing issues with persons attending the meeting, President Chen issued the following statements:
1. Medical care, sanitation, health and disease prevention know no borders, the president said. When Taiwan is faced with the threats of contagious diseases, as it has in recent years with SARS and avian flu, it is unacceptable for Taiwan to be the only gap in the global public health system. The right to health is a basic human right for the 23 million people of Taiwan, and the people of the nation should not be deprived of this right. The people of Taiwan have the right to seek equal status in participating in WHO-related mechanisms, conferences and activities.
2. Taiwan has made every effort since 1997 to join the WHO. It has sought to participate in the organization using the name "Republic of China," "ROC (Taiwan)," "Taiwan (ROC)," or as a health entity. However, in each instance, China has obstructed Taiwan's efforts and has prevented Taiwan from participating in the agency, regardless of the name used. In 2004, the United States, Japan and other nations for the first time voted in favor of granting observer status to Taiwan in the World Health Assembly. On May 23, 2006, 110 legislators signed a petition asking that the government work to gain full entry into the WHO for Taiwan. President Chen said that on April 18, 2007, he personally wrote a letter to the director-general of the WHO asking the organization to let Taiwan join as a full member under the name "Taiwan." Less than a month later on May 11, the Legislative Yuan unanimously passed a resolution supporting the administration's efforts at obtaining WHO membership for Taiwan. These efforts and the consensus reached by the ruling and opposition parties should serve as the foundation for Taiwan's future efforts to participate in the WHO.
3. In recent years, China has taken every measure to isolate and belittle Taiwan, preventing room for Taiwan to take part in international activities. China's position is becoming tougher all the time, he said. For instance, in May 2005, China's Ministry of Health and the WHO Secretariat signed a secret memorandum of understanding, creating all sorts of restrictions and making rules that downgrade Taiwan. One example of this is that any participation by Taiwan medical or health experts in WHO-related activities or conferences must be pre-screened and approved by China's Ministry of Health. If a major outbreak of a disease, such as on the scale of SARS, is seen on Taiwan, China's Ministry of Health must first give its consent before the WHO can send persons to Taiwan to provide assistance. Meanwhile, China has also exerted pressure on the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) that has resulted in the organization downgrading Taiwan's status in the agency to that of a "non-sovereign member." China was also instrumental in forcing passage of a resolution stating "The People's Republic of China (PRC) includes Taiwan and the PRC is the sole legal government representing the whole of China." China also sought to change Taiwan's name in the organization to "Taiwan, China." All of these measures, the president said, are aimed at reducing Taiwan’s status as a sovereign nation. He said that this is currently the most serious challenge facing Taiwan in its diplomatic work.
4. Over the past eight years, the government has maintained the attitude of "standing firm, but moving forward pragmatically" to create conditions that are beneficial for Taiwan to secure diplomatic space for itself and to participate in international organizations. The president said, for instance, that in the process of seeking membership in the World Trade Organization, the government continued in the steps of previous administrations and did not insist on applying under the name "Taiwan." In the case of the WTO, the nation entered the organization under the name "the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu." He said that the government will absolutely look at any possibility and exhibit flexibility in the handling of the name of the nation if the ends serve the benefit of the nation. However, if the ends merely cause more belittling of Taiwan and result in pressure to isolate the nation, we must carefully consider whether such a compromise jeopardizes the welfare and dignity of the 23 million people of Taiwan.
5. Application for membership in the WHO is a long and arduous journey. Just because the nation faces difficulties does not mean that it should abandon its goal, the president said. Obtaining WHO membership is the desire of all the people of Taiwan and it is an objective supported by both the ruling and opposition parties. The government cannot abandon this goal lightly. However, prior to gaining entry into the WHO, the government will make every effort to obtain observer status for Taiwan in the WHA.
6. Weighing the aforementioned considerations, President Chen announced that Taiwan's strategic plans this year in its effort to gain membership in the WHO would be based on a first group of suggestions made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This calls for the president to send a letter to the director-general of the WHO, which focuses on asking the organization to let Taiwan join under the name "Taiwan" and to seek observer status in the WHA under the name "Taiwan." In addition, officials will ask the nation's diplomatic allies to propose at the WHA that Taiwan's bid for observer status be added to the agenda.
Lastly, President Chen expressed his gratitude to everyone attending the meeting and thanked President-elect Ma Ying-jeou for expressing his opinions on the matter in writing on April 4. President Chen said any major decision is a difficult one. He said that as long as we hold strong to our convictions and always keep in mind the health, security and wellbeing of the 23 million people of Taiwan, as well as Taiwan's sovereignty and dignity, we will ultimately realize the hopes and desires of the people.