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“CONCERNING PARTICIPATION OF TAIWAN IN WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H1503-H1506 on April 24, 2001.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
CONCERNING PARTICIPATION OF TAIWAN IN WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 428) concerning the participation of Taiwan in the World Health Organization, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 428
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. CONCERNING THE PARTICIPATION OF TAIWAN IN THE
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO).
(a) Findings.--The Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Good health is a basic right for every citizen of the world and access to the highest standards of health information and services is necessary to help guarantee this right.
(2) Direct and unobstructed participation in international health cooperation forums and programs is therefore crucial for all parts of the world, especially with today's greater potential for the cross-border spread of various infectious diseases such as AIDS.
(3) Taiwan's population of 23,500,000 people is larger than that of \3/4\ of the member states already in the World Health Organization (WHO).
(4) Taiwan's achievements in the field of health are substantial, including one of the highest life expectancy levels in Asia, maternal and infant mortality rates comparable to those of western countries, the eradication of such infectious diseases as cholera, smallpox, and the plague, and the first to be rid of polio and to provide children with free hepatitis B vaccinations.
(5) The United States Centers for Disease Control and its Taiwan counterpart agencies have enjoyed close collaboration on a wide range of public health issues.
(6) In recent years Taiwan has expressed a willingness to assist financially and technically in international aid and health activities supported by the WHO.
(7) On January 14, 2001, an earthquake, registering between 7.6 and 7.9 on the Richter scale, struck El Salvador. In response, the Taiwanese government sent 2 rescue teams, consisting of 90 individuals specializing in firefighting, medicine, and civil engineering. The Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also donated $200,000 in relief aid to the Salvadoran Government.
(8) The World Health Assembly has allowed observers to participate in the activities of the organization, including the Palestine Liberation Organization in 1974, the Order of Malta, and the Holy See in the early 1950's.
(9) The United States, in the 1994 Taiwan Policy Review, declared its intention to support Taiwan's participation in appropriate international organizations.
(10) Public Law 106-137 required the Secretary of State to submit a report to the Congress on efforts by the executive branch to support Taiwan's participation in international organizations, in particular the WHO.
(11) In light of all the benefits that Taiwan's participation in the WHO can bring to the state of health not only in Taiwan, but also regionally and globally, Taiwan and its 23,500,000 people should have appropriate and meaningful participation in the WHO.
(b) Plan.--The Secretary of State shall initiate a United States plan to endorse and obtain observer status for Taiwan at the annual week-long summit of the World Health Assembly in May 2001 in Geneva, Switzerland, and shall instruct the United States delegation to Geneva to implement that plan.
(c) Report.--Not later than 14 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit a written report to the Congress in unclassified form containing the plan required under subsection (b).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach).
Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to support this legislation which would require the administration to initiate a plan to endorse and obtain observer status for Taiwan in the World Health Organization during the May 2001 World Health Assembly meeting in Geneva.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the gentleman from Ohio
(Mr. Brown) for initiating this resolution. I would like to stress that nothing in this bill implies a change in this country's one China policy, which has been based for over 30 years on three communiques and the Taiwan Relations Act; but care should be taken not to arbitrarily exclude the 23 million people of Taiwan from appropriate economic and humanitarian venues.
This legislation recommends a symbolic step underscoring that where sovereignty is not in question, Taiwan ought to be brought into as many international organizations as possible. It already is a member of the Asian Development Bank, as well as APEC. In this context, WHO is a constructive and thoughtful avenue for international participation by the government and people of Taiwan.
Mr. Speaker, disease and national disasters know no borders. Indeed, arguably the greatest international issue in the world today may be disease control, whether we are discussing the issue of HIV/AIDS, TB or other communicable diseases.
What the WHO issue symbolizes is a people-oriented concern for control of disease. Taiwan should not be excluded from such concern, and in fact has stepped forward to provide, in a number of instances, assistance and relief in other parts of the world, such as the recent earthquake circumstance in El Salvador.
Let me say this is a very modest step. It is a symbolic step, and it is a step towards achievement of observer status in a very appropriate humanitarian international organization. Other groups, such as the PLO and the Knights of Malta, have observer status at the World Health Assembly, and it would be very appropriate that Taiwan should accede to the same type of status.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) for yielding me this time and for his leadership and assistance on this issue.
On May 20 of last year, Chen Shui-bian was sworn in as the President of Taiwan. This was a historic event, the first major transfer of power from one political party to a rival political party in Chinese or Taiwanese history. Mature democracies like ours take such political shifts for granted, but the peaceful exchange of power in many regions of the world is a rare legacy. Taiwan now shares in it.
Taiwan has evolved into a stable, prosperous nation governed by the rule of law. Taiwan's 40-year journey toward democracy is a success story, one which we should celebrate, one which we should acknowledge, and we should reward that process.
Mr. Speaker, to that end I introduced H.R. 428 requiring the State Department to initiate a plan to endorse and obtain observer status for Taiwan in this year's World Health Assembly. Ninety-two colleagues have joined in cosponsoring this bill. Fostering Taiwan's participation in the World Health Assembly is a modest step, but a meaningful one. Observer status in the World Health Organization does not require statehood. As the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) said, the Knights of Malta, the Palestinian Liberal Organization, the Vatican, and Rotary International all share observer status at the WHO.
Mr. Speaker, passing this bill will be a significant victory for every Taiwanese citizen, and for every American who cares about human rights. Children and families suffer from the effects of inadequate health care, whether they live in Washington or Geneva or Taipei or Beijing. With the high frequency of international travel and the increase in international trade, the risk of transmitting infectious diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis and AIDS within and across national borders is greater than ever.
Mr. Speaker, 3 years ago Taiwan suffered an outbreak of enterovirus 71, a potentially fatal disease that causes severe inflammation of muscles surrounding the brain, heart and spinal cord. Infants and children are particularly vulnerable to this highly contagious virus. Unfortunately, the Taiwanese doctors treating this virus did not have access to the medical resources because they do not have observer status at WHO. By the time the outbreak was under control, 70 Taiwanese children had died.
Mr. Speaker, had Taiwan been permitted to draw on WHO expertise, these children might still be alive. The fact that Taiwan remains handicapped in its effort to combat global illness is a tragedy. The fact that Taiwan remains handicapped in its efforts to save children is a crime, in some sense, in which we are all implicated. Our government's tacit support for the status quo, our unwillingness to fight for Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization is not only shortsighted, it is unjustifiable.
Infectious diseases do not respect politically driven distinctions or politically drawn national borders. Infectious diseases travel. If there is TB in Taiwan, there will more likely be TB in the United States. If there is AIDS in South Africa, there will be, inevitably be, AIDS in Western Europe. Global illnesses are just that: Global. No country is immune when one country faces a health crisis.
This week, the administration decided to sell four KIDD Class destroyers to Taiwan, despite threats from China. If our commitment to Taiwan is strong enough to justify supporting its military defense, it is certainly strong enough to justify supporting access to global health resources for Taiwan's 23.5 million people.
Mr. Speaker, Taiwan is a country with a strong medical community. They have good scientific research, have a good public health community; and with their participation in WHO, they will contribute to the WHO as WHO information contributes to Taiwan.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the strong support that H.R. 428 has received from both sides of the aisle, and I look forward to the bill's passage today.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Snyder), who is a physician and has practiced medicine around the world.
Mr. SNYDER. Mr. Speaker, I support this resolution, and agree with the intent of the sponsors in bringing it forward today.
As a family doctor who has worked in medicine in several different nations, including Africa and Asia, I know that health problems and disease do not wait for political divisions to be solved or for political problems to be overcome. Ten days ago during this recess, I visited Sierra Leone and Guinea. I had worked in Sierra Leone for 6 months in 1983 and 1984. For the last 10 years, there has been a civil war going on in Sierra Leone which is now going across the border into Guinea. I was helicoptered to the site of the hospital I worked at 10 years ago. The hospital had been burned to the ground several years ago by the rebels. Some of the villagers that were there told me that there were a number of people killed by the RUF, this rebel force, when they destroyed the hospital.
Mr. Speaker, why am I bringing up this issue on this resolution with Taiwan; because the rebels in Sierra Leone have been supported by Charles Taylor, the leader of Liberia. And Taiwan, unfortunately, contrary to every nation in the world, has been developing closer ties over this last decade with Charles Taylor in Liberia. The Taiwanese government has been very clear it is because Charles Taylor has expressed support for Taiwan in their efforts to be included in the United Nations.
Mr. Speaker, while the United States has been supportive of Taiwan, I hope that the government of Taiwan will be sensitive to the international community's efforts to end support for these rebels in Sierra Leone. From press reports, Taiwanese government officials have been quoted as praising Charles Taylor for promoting peace and dialogue in West Africa. Charles Taylor has not been promoting peace and dialogue, he has been promoting violence and a brutal civil war; and I encourage our friends in Taiwan to be a part of the international community, just like they want to be a part of the WHO and end their developing relationship with Charles Taylor.
Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) who has fought for justice around the world.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity to actually commend all of those who are sponsors of this bill. As a matter of fact, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) and others have understood the tremendous developments that are taking place in Taiwan.
Mr. Speaker, I recently had the good fortune to be in Taiwan and meet with health officials, and they have developed serious movement towards high quality health care and health services. As a matter of fact, there is much that other countries could, in fact, learn from what they have been able to do; and so I would join with those who urge that they be provided opportunity to enter into the dialogue at the World Health Organization in all of its actions and interactions so that not only will they benefit, but so that the rest of the world can benefit from what they have learned and what they are doing.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the legislation before us, H.R. 428, which calls for Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization (WHO). To facilitate this important goal, the measure requires the Secretary of State to undertake efforts to endorse and obtain observer status for Taiwan at next month's summit meeting in Geneva of the World Health Assembly, and for the Secretary to submit the plan of action to Congress.
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the author of the legislation, the distinguished gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Sherrod Brown, for his leadership on this issue. I further commend the gentleman from Illinois, Mr. Hyde, the Chairman of the House International Relations Committee, and the Committee's Ranking Democrat, the gentleman from California, Mr. Lantos, for bringing this matter to the floor. I am proud to join my colleagues as a co-sponsor of this bipartisan legislation.
Mr. Speaker, the World Health Organization (WHO) is the preeminent international health organization on the planet. In its charter, the WHO sets forth the crucial objective of attaining the highest possible level of health for all people, yet today the 23 million citizens of Taiwan are still denied appropriate and meaningful participation in the international health forums and programs conducted by the WHO. This is simply wrong and inexcusable, Mr. Speaker, and Congress has spoken out in the past that this should be corrected.
Access to the World Health Organization ensures that the highest standards of health information and services are provided, facilitating the eradication of disease and improvement of public health worldwide. The work of the WHO is particularly crucial today given the tremendous volume of international travel, which has heightened the transmission of communicable diseases between borders.
With over 190 participants in the World Health Organization, it is a travesty that Taiwan is not permitted to receive WHO benefits, especially when you consider Taiwan's 23 million citizens outnumber the population of three-fourths of the WHO's member states. This lack of access to WHO protections has caused the good people of Taiwan to suffer needlessly, such as in 1998 when a deadly, yet preventable, virus killed 70 Taiwanese children and infected more than 1,100 others.
Mr. Speaker, there is no good nor valid reason why Taiwan should be denied observer status with the World Health Organization. As a strong democracy and one of the world's most robust economies, Taiwan rightfully should participate in the health services and medical protections offered by the WHO. Conversely, the WHO stands to benefit significantly from the financial and technological contributions that Taiwan has offered many times in the past.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge our colleagues to adopt this worthy and important legislation.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the initiative by the gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Brown, concerning Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization. I comment our Distinguished Chairman Mr. Hyde and our ranking Minority Member, Mr. Lantos and the Subcommittee Chairmen and Ranking Minority Members of the International Operations and Human Rights and East Asia and the Pacific for crafting and bringing this resolution to the Floor at this time.
As Secretary Powell noted in testimony before our Committee, there should be ways for Taiwan to enjoy the full benefits of participation in international organizations without being a member. H.R. 428 only calls for the Secretary of State to initiate a U.S. plan to endorse and obtain observer status at the World Health Organization (WHO) for Taiwan.
In recent years Taiwan has expressed a willingness to assist financially and technically in international aid and health activities supported by the WHO, but has not been able to render such assistance because Taiwan is not a member of the WHO.
The WHO has allowed observers to participate in the activities of the organization, including the Palestinian Liberation Organization, the Knights of Malta, and the Vatican.
Along with many of my colleagues, I am extremely disappointed that Taiwan is not a full member of the UN and all international organizations that its democratically led government wishes to join. Although this resolution does not absolutely address this concern it is nevertheless a first step in addressing the problem that confronts Taiwan.
Accordingly I strongly support H.R. 428.
Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 428, a bill concerning Taiwan and the World Health Organization (WHO), and commend Representative Brown for his work on this issue. H.R. 428 would recognize that Taiwan and its 21 million people deserve an appropriate role in the WHO.
There are three things the bill seeks to promote. First, H.R. 428 puts the U.S. Congress on record, again, as strongly supporting Taiwan's request to play a more active role in international organizations. This support reflects the results of the 1994 Taiwan Policy Review conducted by the Clinton Administration which declared its intention to support Taiwan's participation in international organizations and to make every effort to make sure that this important goal is accomplished.
Second, this legislation will move Taiwan toward membership in the WHO. Such membership could benefit Taiwan tremendously. For example, in 1998, the WHO was unable to assist Taiwan with an outbreak of a virus that killed 70 children and infected 1,100 more. WHO membership could have prevented needless deaths and sickness.
Third, the WHO could benefit enormously from Taiwan's more active participation in the WHO. Taiwan has made tremendous achievements in the field of health, and the WHO should have full access to Taiwan's technical and financial assistance.
Mr. Speaker, the bill requires the State Department to initiate a plan to endorse and obtain observer status for Taiwan at the annual summit of the World Health Assembly, next month in Geneva. I believe that this is an appropriate step for the United States to take in support Taiwan's participation in international organizations.
I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, this bill is a step in the right direction. It requires the Secretary of State to endorse and to work to obtain observer status for Taiwan in the World Health Organization.
The 24 million people of Taiwan are building a thriving Democracy.
It's the policy of the United States to support Taiwan's participation in International Organizations.
To lead the Free World, we must act on our responsibility by standing up for democracy and our democratic allies.
Taiwan is an island of freedom, but it is surrounded by the constant threat of Communist oppression from Mainland China.
Taiwan's participation in world organizations deserves recognition. They are one of our largest trading partners and they are a free and democratic nation that has recently undertaken a free, peaceful, democratic transition of power.
If we are going to support international organizations, we can't deny admission to free, democratic societies, with populations and economies that are larger than three quarters of the other participating nations. That would be unfair and it would constitute an abdication of American leadership.
Taiwan is a symbol of freedom and opportunity for the billion and a half Chinese held captive under communist rule.
Democracy, and the support for human rights that goes with it, is spreading throughout the world--we should reward and encourage it at every possible opportunity.
We should stand by our friends. We should stand up for freedom and democracy. We should never waver on matters of fundamental principle. And that means we must stand with Taiwan.
Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 428, which states that Taiwan should have appropriate and meaningful participation in the World Health Organization (WHO). The legislation also requires the State Department to initiate a U.S. plan to endorse and obtain observer status for Taiwan at the annual summit of the World Health Assembly in May 2001 in Geneva. In particular, I would like to commend Representative Sherrod Brown for his leadership on this issue.
In the 1994 Taiwan Policy Review Act, the U.S. declared its intention to support Taiwan's participation in international organizations. We should abide by our intentions and support Taiwan's participation at the WHO.
The WHO is an organization dedicated to preventing the spread of disease and coordinating efforts on international health work. In a time when resources to fight global infectious diseases are scarce, we should encourage assistance and coordination from all sources. The global efforts to save lives should not take a back seat to China's global campaign against Taiwan.
Taiwan should be able to benefit from and contribute to the work of the WHO. As an official observer, Taiwan would assist in preventing the spread of global diseases. Taiwan's achievements in health are substantial, including high life expectancy levels and low maternal and infant mortality rates compared to other developed countries. Taiwan could assist both financially and technically in international aid and health activities benefiting people all over the world. Unfortunately, Taiwan has been unable to render such assistance through the WHO because it is not able to participate.
Taiwan's WHO entry is clearly being held hostage to the Chinese government. Last year, Beijing successfully blocked Taiwan's observer status in the World Health Organization. China led nine other nations--
including Cuba and Pakistan in striking down Taiwan's motion ``due to international political realities and China's objections.'' It is time for the U.S. to honor its commitments and support the right of 21 million Taiwanese people to assist and benefit from WHO participation.
Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I would just like to conclude by again congratulating the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) for this fine resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 428, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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