Taipei, May 17 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian appealed for Canada's support for Taiwan's bid to join the World Health Organization Friday.
Receiving a group of Canada parliamentarians, Chen tried to dissuade Ottawa from opposing Taipei's attempt to join the WHO and the United Nations, saying that Canada's commitment to the so-called "one China" principle doesn't obliged it to oppose Taiwan's access to international organizations.
Citing the examples of the United States and Japan who acknowledge there is only one China, Chen said the two countries nevertheless spoke out in favor of Taiwan's WHO bid. "If the United States and Japan can do this, why can't Canada?" Chen asked.
As a member of the global village, Taiwan wants to do its part, and its WHO membership would give it the chance to contribute to the world and serve the interests of both WHO and itself, Chen said. Unlike the United Nations, WHO is an non-political organization and doesn't make statehood a requirement for membership, and Canada should not be reluctant to extend its support for Taiwan's WHO access because of the "one China" principle, Chen went on.
He urged the six Canada's parliamentarians, led by vice chairman of the House of Commons' committee of foreign relations Stockwell Day, to exercise their influence and reverse Ottawa's approach to the issue.
Day and his five parliament colleagues arrived in Taipei Thursday for a six-day visit. They will attend a prayer breakfast in Taipei Saturday.