May 31, 2003

Kansas City Star

Letters to the Editor

Taiwan and SARS

"Exclusion of Taiwan has become more costly" (5/22 editorial) is correct in chastising China for excluding Taiwan from the World Health Organization. It also correctly advocates the inclusion of Taiwan in international organizations.

Since bestowing the scourge of severe acute respiratory syndrome on Taiwan, China has been trying its wicked best to prevent the island nation from getting timely assistance from WHO.

China tries to prevent Taiwan from joining international organizations by saying it is a province of China. However, this is a fallacious claim.

Taiwan is a multiparty democratic nation. China is an authoritarian communist state. Never since its founding has the People's Republic of China ruled Taiwan. In fact, despite the incessant threat of China, Taiwan is transforming itself from a de facto to de jure independent country.

Official deceit to cover up the severity of SARS in China and China's despicable behavior toward Taiwan in the Geneva WHO meeting should serve as a warning to all about China's wanton disregard for the most basic of human rights -- the right to life and health.

The nations of the world should not kowtow to China regarding its spurious claim over Taiwan.

Bob In-yu Yang