WASHINGTON TIMES - May 5, 2003

As a Taiwanese-American working in Washington, it was encouraging to read Austin Bay's column urging China to put politics aside and let Taiwan join the World Health Organization ("How SARS scarred Asia's biggest tiger," Commentary, Friday). China's leadership has finally begun to take SARS seriously by sacking the mayor of Beijing and the minister of health. Another important step Chinese officials should take is to respect the right of the Taiwanese people to join the WHO.

China's continued objection to Taiwan's participation in the health organization effectively blocks Taiwan from sharing vital information about SARS and from contributing to the international effort to stop this viral catastrophe.

Disease knows no borders. As Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy G. Thompson noted recently, "In a global world we share global diseases that call for global collaboration and global response." On Thursday, the U.S. Senate passed by unanimous consent Senate Bill 243 to support Taiwan's observer status at the WHO.

It is time for Beijing and the nations of the world to recognize Taiwan as a valued member of the world community and accept Taiwan's WHO membership application. The world will be a better place for it.

JOYCE C. SHIEH
Arlington