Taiwan to apply for WHO membership as "Taiwan"

This article was written by Edwin Hsiao and published by the Taiwan Journal on April 19, 2007. It reports that in 2007, Taiwan will request participation in the World Health Organization (WHO) as a full member under the name "Taiwan".

According to the Office of the President, the government is adopting a three-pronged approach in 2007. Taiwan will continue previous attempts to obtain observer status at the World Health Assembly (WHA), as well as meaningful participation in a number of technical conferences held under the auspices of the WHO. Meanwhile, President Chen Shui-bian will send a letter to WHO Director-General Margaret Chan and express Taiwan's wish to become a member of the organization under the name "Taiwan".

In recent years, Taiwan has had to use many different names to join international organizations. For example, the official name for Taiwan in the International Olympic committee is Chinese Taipei. In the World Trade Organization, Taiwan has to be referred to as the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu.

According to President Chen, application for WHO membership under the name "Taiwan" gained endorsement not only from the Legislative Yuan but also from the people. A poll conducted in March 2006 showed that nearly 95 percent of respondents supported the campaign.

As the WHO's objective is attaining the highest possible level of health for all people, the right of the people in Taiwan to health should not be discriminated against or denied. It should not be left out of the global disease prevention network.

According to related media reports, the U.S. Department of State recently urged Taiwan to concentrate on seeking accession to the WHA, rather than applying to join the WHO as a full member. Specifically, U.S. officials told Taiwanese media in a background briefing that the United States has always encouraged Taiwan to seek meaningful participation in WHO activities. If Taiwan is denied such participation, then opportunities for Taiwan's 23 million people to make essential contributions to world health affairs will be impeded.

However, U.S. officials said that the United States would not support Taiwan's bid for full WHO membership, because it is established U.S. policy not to support Taiwan's entry into international organizations where statehood is a membership requirement.