For immediate release                                                                                              April 17, 2002

 

Congressional Taiwan Caucus to Pres. Bush:

Openly Support Taiwan's WHO Observer Status

 

        In its first action, the newly inaugurated Congressional Taiwan Caucus pressed President George W. Bush for an " open declaration of support for Taiwan's WHO observer status" and requested that he "ask the State Department to initiate a plan to endorse and obtain observer status for Taiwan at the May 2002 Geneva WHA meeting."

 The CTC letter to the President said that his open support for Taiwan "would encourage the People's Republic of China and the rest of the international community to be more receptive to Taiwan's participation in the WHO and other international organizations."

"An Presidential declaration of support for Taiwan's WHO observer status is a crucial signal to other nations about the US' intent in the WHA Geneva meeting," declared FAPA President Wu Ming-chi.  "We have heard numerous times that support is there for Taiwan, but other nations look to the US to take the lead.  FAPA deeply appreciates the Congressional Taiwan Caucus' initiative on this issue and we hope that Mr. Bush will respond forcefully."