Taipei, May 4 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said Saturday that excluding Taiwan from the World Health Organization (WHO) is a "serious threat" to justice and human rights.
The president made the remarks when he attended a symposium on the strategy and role assignment of a national campaign for Taiwan's admission into the WHO.
President Chen stressed that Taiwan's bid to join the WHO has nothing to do with the sovereignty issue, and mainland China should not use its political clout to obstruct Taiwan from participating in matters concerning world public health.
The president added that at a time of close exchanges between nations and a time when "disease knows no borders," it is a "serious threat" to justice to continue to exclude Taiwan from the organization.
He noted that during an enterovirus outbreak in 1998, Taiwan failed to obtain related information and keep abreast of the latest developments because it was shut out of the WHO, adding that 80 children lost their precious lives.
Chen also said that although the WHO has excluded Taiwan for 30 years, the island established a national insurance system, the first of its kind in Asia, and a comprehensive medical information and research network.
He recalled that after a disastrous earthquake hit Taiwan on Sept. 21, 1999, rescue and relief teams from around the world pitched in to help, creating hope and helping the people of Taiwan get through the traumatic period.
The people of Taiwan want to reciprocate to the world community and are willing to contribute humanitarian aid and services whenever major disasters occur, he said.
The president also said that the international community has over the past five years given its support and made clear its stance on Taiwan's bid to join the WHO, citing as an example the passage on March 14 of a resolution by the European Parliament expressing its support for Taiwan's participation as an observer in the upcoming World Health Assembly, the highest decision-making body of the WHO.