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House
Health Subcommittee Chair Urges Secretary of Health to Support
Taiwan in Geneva
-For
Immediate Release - May 8, 2001-
Chairman
of the House Health Subcommittee Rep. Michael Bilirakis
(R-FL), in a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services
Tommy Thompson released today, asked that while Thompson
attends the World Health Assembly in Switzerland next week
he "As you prepare for your trip to the World Health
Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, I urge you to support Taiwan's
observer status in the WHA, noting developments in Taiwan
and the positive role Taiwan's participation in this body
will have for all countries in your remarks."
Bilirakis
also asked Thompson to "make time to visit with
Taiwan's Minister of Health, Dr. Li Ming-liang,"
while at the Geneva meeting.
Bilirakis
noted that such actions by Thompson "will certainly
carry much weight with our friends around the globe."
He reminded Thompson that the Republican Party's 2000 platform
had stated, "In recognition of its growing importance
in the global economy, we support Taiwan's accession to
the World Trade Organization, as well as its participation
in the World Health Organization and other multilateral
institutions."
Bilirakis
also reminded Thompson of the 407-0 vote in the House on
April 24th for H.R. 428, which calls upon the
Secretary of State to "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 instruct the United
States delegation to Geneva to implement such a plan."
FAPA
President Wen-yen Chen, Ph.D. President states: "We
sincerely hope that the Secretary does speak out forcefully
for Taiwan's participation in the WHA. Symbolically this
-and his meeting with Taiwan’s Minister of Health- would
be of great importance and will, hopefully, move other nations
to support Taiwan's observer status to the Assembly as well."
*
* * * * *
Congress
of the United States
House
of Representatives
Washington,
DC 20515-0909
May
4, 2001
The
Honorable Tommy G. Thompson
Secretary,
Department of Health and Human Services
200
Independence Avenue, SW
Washington,
DC 20201-0004
Dear
Secretary Thompson:
As you
are aware, the World Health Organization (WHO) states that
the "enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of
health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being
without distinction of race, religion, political belief,
economic or social condition." Yet today, Taiwan is
excluded from participation in the WHO because of political
pressure from the People’s Republic of China.
This
means that the people of Taiwan cannot share in the WHO’s
vital resources and expertise. Taiwan’s population of 23
million people is larger that three-quarters of the member
states already in the WHO. Clearly, Taiwan and the world
community could benefit by its participation in the WHO.
The United States should actively support Taiwan’s membership
in the World Health Organization.
As you
know, the 2000 Republican Party platform stated, "In
recognition of its growing importance in the global economy,
we support Taiwan’s accession to the World Trade Organization,
as well as its participation in the World Health Organization
and other multilateral institutions." In addition,
on several occasions, the House of Representatives has approved
legislation calling for Taiwan’s participation in the WHO.
On April 24, 2001, the House of Representatives unanimously
approved H.R.428, which calls upon the Secretary of State
to "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 … instruct the United States delegation to Geneva to
implement such plan." The bill also instructs the United
States delegation to Geneva to implement this plan.
As you
prepare for your trip to the World Health Assembly (WHA)
in Geneva, I urge you to support Taiwan's observer status
in the WHA, noting developments in Taiwan and the positive
role Taiwan's participation in this body will have for all
countries in your remarks. I also hope that you will make
time to visit with Taiwan's Minister of Health, Dr. Li Ming-liang.
Your
actions in Geneva will certainly carry much weight with
our friends around the globe. I sincerely hope that you
will support Taiwan and its 23 million people.
Thank
you for your consideration of this matter.
Sincerely
yours,
Michael
Bilirakis
Member
of Congress
Mandarin
Press Release
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