Saint Lucia helps Taiwan to participate in World Health Assembly
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Contact: Embassy of Taiwan
Tuesday, March 23, 2010 – World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Margaret Chan sent a letter dated March 22 to Taiwan’s Department of Health (DOH) Minister Yaung Chih-liang, informing the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) of the time and venue of the Sixty-third World Health Assembly (WHA) meeting, along with details concerning attendance. Minister Yaung will lead Taiwan’s delegation at this year’s meeting in Geneva.
This year’s invitation is exactly the same as the one Taiwan received in 2009. Taiwan’s second consecutive year of participation in the WHA can be attributed to the pragmatic “flexible diplomacy” policy of President Ma Ying-jeou as improving cross-strait relations also played a contributing role. Strong support from Taiwan’s diplomatic allies like Saint Lucia and friendly countries like the United States, European Union, Japan and many others, together with NGOs across the globe has also played a role of essential significance in making Taiwan’s participation in WHA a reality. Take Saint Lucia for example, Honourable Stephenson King, Prime Minister, and Honourable Dr. Keith Mondesir, Minister for Health, have been staunch advocates for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the WHO and other specialized agencies under the United Nations system.
Since the WHO’s incorporation of Taiwan as a participant in the enforcement mechanism of the International Health Regulations (IHR) and as an observer at the WHA in 2009, Taiwan has made progress in expanding its participation in WHO affairs. Through smooth communications with the WHO and under the IHR framework, Taiwan’s representatives also have been invited to take part in WHO meetings concerning the H1N1 influenza pandemic as well as other technical conferences and training programs. Furthermore, with the assistance of the world body and other countries, Taiwan’s population of 23 million has been able to obtain isolated H1N1 virus stock and produce a flu vaccine on its own.
These events indicate that the international community has recognized Taiwan’s need, both professional and functional, to participate in the world health body, as well as the contributions Taiwan can make to the international health system. Both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Health are therefore confident that all countries in the world will be glad to see Taiwan’s representatives in attendance at the World Health Assembly once again this year. This positive development, on the one hand, will help Taiwan continue to expand its participation in meetings, mechanisms and activities under the WHO. On the other hand, it indicates that improvements in cross-strait relations can facilitate the expansion of Taiwan’s international relations, which will in turn make Taiwan more willing and confident to deepen cross-strait relations—a “virtuous circle” worth encouraging.
Taiwan was formally invited by the WHO April 28, 2009 to take part as an observer in that year’s meeting of the WHA—its governing body—under the name “Chinese Taipei.” The then Health Minister Dr. Yeh Ching-chuan led the government delegation of Taiwan to the event. This was the first time for the Taiwan to officially participate in a U.N. meeting since walking out of the world body in 1971. The ongoing efforts by countries like Saint Lucia to ensure Taiwan's meaningful contribution to critical global issues is certainly paying dividends.
Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) |
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