[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 141 (Friday, October 9, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H10261-H10266]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        TAIWAN'S PARTICIPATION IN THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the chairman of the Committee 
on International Relations, who is momentarily delayed, I move to 
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 
334) relating to Taiwan's participation in the World Health 
Organization.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 334

       Whereas good health is a basic right for every citizen of 
     the world and access to the highest standards of health 
     information and services is necessary to help guarantee this 
     right;
       Whereas direct and unobstructed participation in 
     international health cooperation forums and programs is 
     therefore crucial, especially with today's greater potential 
     for the cross-border spread of various infectious diseases 
     such as AIDS and Hong Kong bird flu through increased trade 
     and travel;
       Whereas the World Health Organization (WHO) set forth in 
     the first chapter of its charter the objective of attaining 
     the highest possible level of health for all people;
       Whereas in 1977 the World Health Organization established 
     ``Health for all by the year 2000'' as its overriding 
     priority and reaffirmed that central vision with the 
     initiation of its ``Health For All'' renewal process in 1995;
       Whereas Taiwan's population of 21,000,000 people is larger 
     than that of \3/4\ of the member states already in the World 
     Health Organization and shares the noble goals of the 
     organization;
       Whereas Taiwan's achievements in the field of health are 
     substantial, including one of the highest life expectancy 
     levels in Asia, maternal and infant mortality rates 
     comparable to those of western countries, the eradication of 
     such infectious diseases as cholera, smallpox, and the 
     plague, the first Asian nation to be rid of polio, and the 
     first country in the world to provide children with free 
     hepatitis B vaccinations;
       Whereas prior to 1972 and its loss of membership in the 
     World Health Organization, Taiwan sent specialists to serve 
     in other member countries on countless health projects and 
     its health experts held key positions in the organization, 
     all to the benefit of the entire Pacific region;
       Whereas Taiwan is not allowed to participate in any WHO-
     organized forums and workshops concerning the latest 
     technologies in the diagnosis, monitoring, and control of 
     diseases;
       Whereas in recent years both the Taiwanese Government and 
     individual Taiwanese experts have expressed a willingness to 
     assist financially or technically in WHO-supported 
     international aid and health activities, but have ultimately 
     been unable to render such assistance;
       Whereas according to the constitution of the World Health 
     Organization, Taiwan does not fulfill the criteria for 
     membership;
       Whereas the World Health Organization does allow observers 
     to participate in the activities of the organization; and
       Whereas in light of all of the benefits that such 
     participation could bring to the state of health not only in 
     Taiwan, but also regionally and globally: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that--
       (1) Taiwan and its 21,000,000 people should have 
     appropriate and meaningful participation in the World Health 
     Organization; and
       (2) it should be United States policy to pursue some 
     initiative in the World Health Organization which will give 
     Taiwan meaningful participation in a manner that is 
     consistent with such organization's requirements.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Solomon) and the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. 
Faleomavaega) will each control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. Solomon).
  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. SOLOMON asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)


                             General Leave

  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on this bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, I could not share the time with a more 
distinguished gentleman than my good friend.
  Again, Mr. Speaker, on behalf of our very, very distinguished and 
great chairman of the Committee on International Relations, the 
committee which I had the privilege of serving on for many, many years 
until someone we know named Robert Michel drug me kicking and screaming 
off of that committee and gave me a chance to serve

[[Page H10262]]

on the Committee on Rules, I thank the gentleman from New York 
(Chairman Gilman) for the support of this legislation. He is one of the 
major sponsors. He is a friend of our great friend and ally, the 
Republic of China on Taiwan.
  I cannot help but think how things have a way of coming about full 
circle. As a freshman Member of this body 20 years ago, the first bill 
I worked on was the Taiwan Relations Act. I still believe that the 
legislation is one of the most significant achievements of my career 
and certainly of the whole period in which I have served in this 
Congress. Again, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) was an 
integral part of that whole legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, Members who have come to the House more recently may 
wonder why it is that so many of us more senior Members from both sides 
of the aisle are so concerned about Taiwan. Let me tell the Members 
why.
  When President Carter broke off diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 
favor of recognizing Communist mainland China, that marked the only 
time in 210 years of constitutional history that our government has 
broken relations with a treaty ally without provocation and during a 
time of peace.
  Whatever Members may have thought about the merits or the demerits of 
recognizing mainland Communist China, Members from both sides of the 
aisle at all points on the philosophical spectrum realized that a 
profoundly important and potentially dangerous precedent was being 
established by doing just that. Members reasoned that if America is 
seen as being unfaithful to its allies, America will soon have no 
allies at all.
  So the Taiwan Relations Act was enacted as a way of assuring the 
people of Taiwan that America was not abandoning them and that the 
representatives of the American people, we Members of Congress, 
overwhelmingly stood solidly with them, regardless of the fact that the 
President, having the constitutional authority to conduct foreign 
policy, saw fit to derecognize them at that time. The entire world, and 
especially our other allies in Asia, needed that same reassurance.
  In the years since then, many Members, myself included, have served 
as watchdogs to make sure that the Taiwan Relations Act, and that is 
the law of the land right today, Mr. Speaker, is adhered to in both the 
letter and the spirit of law.
  The most important thing to be concerned about is that nothing be 
done, nothing ever be done, by omission or by commission, that can be 
construed as undercutting Taiwan or pressuring Taiwan to yield to 
coercion from mainland China. Mainland China is very good about doing 
that. They are great intimidators.
  Mr. Speaker, the Taiwan Relations Act was a creative response to the 
unprecedented diplomatic challenge posed by the desire, in fact, the 
need, to maintain and protect close ties with a historic friend that 
found itself laboring under the burden of an ambiguous national 
identity, and still does.
  One would have hoped that similarly creative thinking would have been 
done in various international institutions around the world, but that 
has not been especially forthcoming, and again, the reason is through 
the direct intimidation by the Communist Peoples' Republic of China.
  Nevertheless, we have an opportunity today to do something positive. 
The resolution before us expresses the sense of Congress that Taiwan 
and its 21 million people, 21 million people, should have an 
appropriate and meaningful representation in the World Health 
Organization, and that the Clinton administration is urged to pursue an 
initiative to that end. That is what this resolution is all about.
  Mr. Speaker, if there ever was a good place to start this, it is the 
World Health Organization. Let me tell the Members why. The World 
Health Organization is a humanitarian organization, as we all know. It 
is one of the few important international organizations that is not 
infected with what I call a political agenda. It is not prone to the 
bureaucratic growth, as most of these international organizations are.
  Taiwan, and Members all should listen to this, Taiwan was a charter 
member of the World Health Organization and, as the resolution notes, 
made important contributions to the global fight against disease before 
being deprived of membership in 1972.
  Taiwan has continued progress since then in eradicating disease and 
in establishing high standards of public health at home. That in fact 
means that it can contribute even more to the world today if the 
programs and cooperative forums of the World Health Organization were 
open to Taiwan's participation, again, with 21 million people.
  Let me tell the Members how significant 21 million people is. We 
cannot pretend that a free and prosperous and advanced society of that 
many people does not exist. Indeed, Taiwan, and this is a point that I 
wanted to make, Taiwan has a larger population than three-fourths of 
the Members of the World Health Organization. Can Members imagine that?
  Mr. Speaker, the resolution calls for those 21 million people to have 
an appropriate and meaningful participation in the World Health 
Organization. That is what it does. Surely the imagination exists to 
find a way to do that. If there ever is a problem, it would seem to be 
a matter of will.
  But let this House make its voice heard, that Taiwan deserves to 
participate in the important work of the World Health Organization, and 
their 21 million need and deserve to be the beneficiaries of that 
organization. Taiwan has an awful lot to contribute.
  Mr. Speaker, for this resolution I would just hope it would pass 
unanimously. I would like to give great credit for the wording of this 
resolution to my good friend, the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Douglas 
Bereuter), a classmate of mine 20 years ago. We helped also to write 
the Taiwan Relations Act. I would like to pay tribute to him and to the 
gentleman from New York (Chairman Gilman) as I have spoken of before 
for his consideration.
  This probably is the last time that he and I will collaborate here on 
this floor on a matter of common concern, and I thank him for all of 
his help through the years, both the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. 
Bereuter) and him.
  Also, I think I saw the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) come in. I 
would just like to also thank him for his interest on this issue. He 
and I were in Taiwan not too long ago, and he feels as strongly as I do 
about this measure.
  Once again, I urge support of it, Mr. Speaker, and I ask unanimous 
consent that the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) may control the 
remainder of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I also would like to commend the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), chairman of the Committee on 
International Relations, for his support and leadership, as well as the 
management of this legislation now pending before our colleagues.

                              {time}  1315

  I also want to commend the gentleman from New York (Mr. Solomon) for 
his eloquent remarks. Over the years, I have always respected his 
tremendous knowledge about Taiwan, and the rest of Southeast Asia for 
that matter, and his strong feelings about our security interests in 
this part of the world.
  I want to commend also the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), 
Chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, for his 
participation and also working and providing this resolution that is 
now before us. Of course, my good friend the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Brown) for his important role in initially bringing this issue to our 
attention.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution is a simple one. It States the sense of 
the Congress that Taiwan should have appropriate and meaningful 
participation in the World Health Organization, and it endorses an 
American policy that seeks to find a role for Taiwan, or the Republic 
of China, in the World Health Organization in a manner that is 
consistent with the World Health Organization's Constitution.

[[Page H10263]]

  Mr. Speaker, I will note for my colleagues in the House that even the 
nonself-governing territories of the United States also participate 
actively with several programs offered by the World Health 
Organization. In fact, over the years the World Health Organization has 
provided scholarships for students from these insular areas, 
particularly in the areas of medicine, dentistry and nursing school. 
This scholarship program has been of tremendous assistance to these 
nonself-governing territories.
  Mr. Speaker, Taiwan currently is conducting discussions and dialogue 
with the leadership of the People's Republic of China and we think this 
is a positive step to lessen the tensions between Taiwan, or the 
Republic of China, and the People's Republic of China.
  Mr. Speaker, with a population of some 21 million people, Taiwan has 
achieved over the years one of the economic miracles of Asia. Taiwan 
currently has one of the most stable economies throughout Southeast 
Asia with foreign exchange reserves well over $100 billion. Taiwan was 
the first Asian Nation to eradicate the dreaded disease polio. Taiwan 
also was the first country in the world to provide its children 
vaccinations to combat hepatitis B.
  Mr. Speaker, with its tremendous resources and expertise available to 
the fields of health care services, I honestly believe, Mr. Speaker, 
that the Republic of China, or Taiwan, should become a member of the 
World Health Organization. I urge my colleagues to vote in support of 
this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in strong support 
of House Concurrent Resolution 334 regarding Taiwan's participation in 
the World Health Organization. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this 
resolution.
  First, I want to commend the gentleman from New York (Mr. Solomon), 
the distinguished chairman of our Committee on Rules and my good 
friend, for introducing and advocating this measure. This body will 
certainly miss his outstanding leadership as chairman of our Committee 
on Rules and his continued interest in our Nation's security and in our 
foreign policy. We thank the gentleman for his continued advocacy, not 
only on behalf of Taiwan, but so many other nations around the world.
  Mr. Speaker, I also want to thank the distinguished gentleman from 
Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia and the 
Pacific, for helping to craft appropriate language for this resolution, 
as well as the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) for his perseverance on 
this issue.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe we all agree that good health is a basic human 
right of people everywhere. That right, though, can only be guaranteed 
if all people have unfettered access to all available resources 
regarding health care.
  The World Health Organization, a United Nations body which has 191 
participating entities, is one of those important resources. But today, 
regrettably, Taiwan, a Nation of 21 million people, has been denied a 
share in that basic human right. That is wrong, and it is time for the 
House to go on record correcting that.
  Denying Taiwan participation in the World Health Organization is not 
justifiable in this day and age. Good health is a fundamental right of 
all people and the people of Taiwan are no exception.
  United States support for Taiwan's participation in the World Health 
Organization is appropriate. In today's modern global environment, 
Taiwan's meaningful involvement in World Health Organization activities 
will benefit the people of Taiwan and the world as well.
  So, it is time for the Clinton administration to do the right thing, 
to take affirmative action, and to seek appropriate participation for 
Taiwan in the World Health Organization.
  There are opportunities for Taiwan to pursue observer status which 
would allow the people of Taiwan to participate in a substantive manner 
in the scientific and health activities of the WHO.
  Consequently, I call upon the administration to pursue all 
initiatives in the WHO which will allow these 21 million people to 
share in the health benefits that the WHO can provide. That is the 
right thing to do and, accordingly, I urge my colleagues to fully 
support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman 
from Ohio (Mr. Brown), my friend.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from American 
Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) for yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 334, a 
bill to support Taiwan's efforts to participate in the World Health 
Organization. I especially want to thank the gentleman from New York 
(Mr. Solomon) for his leadership and perseverance on this issue. Also 
the good work of the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega), 
as well as the gentleman from California (Mr. Cox) for his work on 
this, and the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) and the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Gilman) as chairs of the subcommittee and committee, 
respectively, for their assistance and good work on this issue.
  Mr. Speaker, every individual, regardless of political or economic 
background, should have access to first-rate medical care. I am pleased 
that this Congress is finally considering this important legislation 
before we adjourn this year.
  Since 1972, the 21 million people of Taiwan have been blocked from 
participating in the World Health Organization. As a consequence, 
especially the children of Taiwan have needlessly suffered because 
their doctors are denied access to the latest WHO protocols.
  Unfortunately, with each passing year, administration after 
administration in this country have contributed to Taiwan's plight by 
supporting China's assertion that its neighbor is not a nation and, 
therefore, should not be represented in the international community.
  The fact of the matter is that participation for Taiwan in the World 
Health Organization poses no threat to Beijing's security but will 
actually enhance the quality of life for China 1.2 billion inhabitants 
in addition to Taiwan's 21 million citizens.
  The WHO is not a political organization, as the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Solomon) pointed out. Disregarding political parties, 
political philosophies, or political boundaries, the WHO works to 
eradicate and control disease and improve the health of people around 
the world. It has instituted highly effective immunization programs 
allowing hundreds of millions of children to live longer and better 
lives.
  The WHO has already helped protect eight out of ten children 
worldwide from major childhood diseases, including tuberculosis and 
measles and has worked to reduce the infant mortality rate 40 percent 
since 1970. Mr. Speaker, we should all be deeply upset by our country's 
refusal to help Taiwan conquer diseases which we ourselves have already 
exterminated.
  Taiwan's exclusion from the WHO has been tragic. While the President 
was visiting China this past July, scores of Taiwanese children were 
fighting for their lives against a new deadly flu-like virus which 
attacks the muscle sacs around the surrounding heart, brain, and upper 
spine. Over 70 infants died, and possibly 100,000 other children have 
become infected and face an uncertain future.
  This tragedy further illustrates the importance of Taiwan's 
membership in the WHO and the need to access the valuable expertise of 
this respected body. Young children and older citizens are particularly 
vulnerable to a host of emerging infectious diseases are without the 
knowledge and expertise shared among the member nations of the World 
Health Organization.
  With increased travel and trade among the members of our global 
village, disease obviously does not stop at national borders and 
national boundaries. When we learn of outbreaks of an enterovirus in 
Taiwan, Ebola in Central Africa, or the Asian Bird Flu in Hong Kong, it 
is vital that the WHO be

[[Page H10264]]

allowed to combat our nation's vulnerability to spreading infectious 
diseases before it reaches our shores.
  Erecting boundaries to shared information which would help improve 
the health of every American is a foolish and a deadly policy. Twenty 
years ago, a mysterious and fatal virus from Africa first appeared in 
New York and San Francisco. Our national health care system, which is 
the finest in the world, was ill-prepared for the spread of what we now 
know to be the AIDS virus. Two decades later, AIDS has spread to all 50 
States and killed over 100,000 Americans. It is not in our interest to 
limit membership in an organization which is dedicated to combating 
infectious disease.
  Denying Taiwan the knowledge and the expertise of the WHO is a 
fundamental violation of human rights. With just under 22 million 
people, Taiwan's population is larger than 70 percent of the 191 
members of the WHO, whose charter clearly states that membership shall 
be open to all states.
  Good health is a basic right for every citizen of the world, and 
Taiwan's participation in the WHO would greatly help foster that right 
for its people. The people of Taiwan and their democratically elected 
government face many serious threats to their sovereignty. Chinese 
aggression and their continuing threat of force to settle their claim 
to Taiwan is a serious problem. Equally threatening is their efforts to 
continue to thwart Taiwan's efforts to help improve the health of its 
citizens.
  Mr. Speaker, we are the only country in the world which can stand up 
to China and the international community. We have an obligation, Mr. 
Speaker, to support the Taiwanese people in their efforts to determine 
their own future. I call on all my colleagues to support House 
Concurrent Resolution 334, and to help Taiwan participate in the World 
Health Organization.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) 
for his supportive remarks.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from 
Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), the chairman of Subcommittee on Asia and the 
Pacific.
  (Mr. BEREUTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York 
(Chairman Gilman) for yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 334 relating to 
the appropriate participation of Taiwan in the World Health 
Organization. I commend my colleague and classmate, the distinguished 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Solomon), chairman of the Committee on 
Rules, for his initiative on crafting this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, there is strong support for the people of Taiwan being 
able to take advantage of the information and services offered by the 
World Health Organization, the WHO. Given that fact, and given the fact 
that international travel makes the transmission of communicable 
diseases much more prevalent, it is illogical to deny WHO services to 
Taiwan's population of 21 or 22 million.
  Moreover, there is much that Taiwan could offer in terms of medical 
and pharmaceutical expertise. This Member very strongly, therefore, is 
supportive of Taiwan having a meaningful role in the WHO. The 
difficulty has been the fact that the WHO only allows membership for 
states, and Taiwan does not fit within the definition of a state.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a technical issue, but it is nonetheless an 
important issue. It relates directly to the fact that Taiwan and the 
People's Republic of China, the mainland, both claim the same 
territory. By and large, the international community supports the PRC's 
claim. As a result, Taiwan is denied full membership in organizations 
where statehood is a prerequisite.
  There are some in Taiwan, and perhaps some in this country, who would 
push for membership in international organizations as an indirect 
method of altering Taiwan's sovereign status. While such motives are 
understandable, it is not the purpose of H. Con. Res. 334, and this 
body does not, therefore, become enmeshed in such a debate. It would 
otherwise, I think, unfortunately have been enmeshed in such a debate 
in the previous resolution. This resolution deals with legitimate 
humanitarian issues, while consciously avoiding the political dispute.
  Mr. Speaker, the point of the resolution before us today is the 
important contribution to global health that would result from 
meaningful Taiwanese participation. The Taiwan Relations Act, which 
everyone in this body seems to support, certainly I do, expresses the 
expectation that the future of Taiwan will be determined by peaceful 
means. There is an expectation, and indeed I would say a requirement, 
that Beijing and Taipei talk to one another about substantive issues.
  Mr. Speaker, such discussions are indeed about to take place again. 
Next week, on October 14, the mainland and the Taiwanese negotiators 
will meet to resume high-level discussions that have been in a 3-year 
hiatus. In recent weeks, the head of the association for relations 
across the Taiwan Strait, the PRC's chief negotiator, has indicated 
that Beijing may be willing to make significant concessions. 
Incredibly, there even has been talk about concepts of shared 
sovereignty. This Member would hope this negotiation does, in fact, 
happen, goes forward positively, and there will be a clear substantive 
negotiation.
  If these negotiations are ultimately successful, or at least moved 
towards a successful conclusion, then both sides achieve a better 
situation. And then it may well be that one day resolutions such as 
this one before this body may not be necessary. But it is necessary at 
this point. I, of course, look forward to the day when we have a 
peaceful resolution of those difficulties.
  Mr. Speaker, this Member would congratulate the author of this 
resolution again, the distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Solomon), chairman of the Committee on Rules. The gentleman's support 
for Taiwan has been legendary and it has never wavered.

                              {time}  1300

  This Member is genuinely pleased that we were able to reach an 
accommodation on a measure so close to the gentleman's heart through 
the resolution which he crafted and introduced.
  Mr. Speaker, as a cosponsor of House Concurrent Resolution 334, 
recently introduced, I urge its speedy adoption.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Rohrabacher), a member of our committee.
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. 
Res. 334, and I rise thus in support of making it the official policy 
of the United States government that we favor the participation of the 
Republic of China and Taiwan in the World Health Organization.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Gilman), the chairman of the committee, for the leadership he has 
provided on this. And, of course, the gentleman always provides the 
leadership and strength on pro-freedom initiatives and initiatives that 
deal with fundamental fairness.
  I also want to thank the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. 
Faleomavaega) for his cooperation and leadership on that side of the 
aisle.
  And, finally, I would like to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Solomon), who has been a fierce fighter for freedom and justice in this 
world and in this body. The gentleman will be missed. And on issues 
just like this, he has always been there for the people struggling for 
freedom in various parts of the world.
  Taiwan is, first and foremost, a free and democratic country. In the 
last few years we have seen an evolution in Taiwan that should serve as 
a shining example to the rest of Asia. In fact, as the rest of Asia 
sinks further towards tyranny and repression, Taiwan is reaching new 
heights, even in the face of threats against it, towards achieving its 
goal of a freer, more democratic, and more prosperous country.
  In Taiwan, there are free elections, freedom of the press, freedom of 
religion, freedom of assembly and freedom of enterprise. This 
resolution tells the world that freedom counts to the American people. 
We should not be on the side of a communist regime's attempt, wherever 
it is, to in some way intimidate a group of free people.

[[Page H10265]]

  That is the situation we have now in Asia, where one tyrannical 
government is trying to frighten the people of Taiwan. And we are 
saying by this that where people have had these reforms, we should be 
siding with those people, who have at least, or would like to 
participate in the rest of the free world. And that is what is going on 
in the Republic of China.
  This, on the other hand, sends a message that we respect an elected 
government; the elected government in the Republic of China and Taiwan. 
And as I say, not only has it a good record in terms of their political 
record and their economic record, but the Republic of China and Taiwan 
has an admirable record of public health, which is consistent with any 
government's commitment to democracy. The foundation of democracy is 
the respect that all individuals have a right to live in dignity and 
with a decent and healthy life. So it is consistent, then, that that is 
what we find in Taiwan.
  I wish to also take this moment to express something that perhaps 
some people in this body do not know about. And that is, Taiwan, with 
its 21 million people, through private foundations and also through 
government action, have been deeply involved with helping other people 
who face health crises and humanitarian crises throughout the world. 
Through the TzuChi Foundation, tons and tons of medicines have been 
sent to crisis areas throughout Asia.
  And, in fact, the Republic of Taiwan and the TzuChi Foundation, they 
even have a free clinic in Southern California for everyone. There is a 
free clinic that is run by the TzuChi Foundation. These people care 
about humanity, and we should salute them today by this resolution and 
say they should be part of the World Health Organization. So I salute 
the Republic of China and Taiwan and the TzuChi Foundation and those 
good and decent values those people represent.
  This resolution is the best way that I can think of for this Congress 
to salute that type of commitment to the ideals that we share as 
Americans. I rise in support of the resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time 
to the gentleman from California (Mr. Cox).
  Mr. COX of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding 
me this time, and I wish to thank not only the gentleman from Nebraska 
(Mr. Bereuter) but also the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) for the 
very solid work they did in bringing this legislation to the floor.
  The concerns about sovereignty by the People's Republic of China 
ought not to take precedence over public health, certainly not over the 
health of children in Taiwan. Taiwan's access to the resources of the 
World Health Organization is a matter of morality.
  I am thrilled that we are making this common sense step forward, 
putting good judgment and public policy ahead of politics. This is a 
very, very welcome resolution to support, it is sound foreign policy 
for the United States, and it reflects the best in bipartisanship in 
this Congress as we close our session. The solid work of the gentleman 
from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown), 
in particular, working across the aisle, is very much to be commended, 
and I strongly support this resolution.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Concurrent 
Resolution 334, advocating the participation of Taiwan in the World 
Health Organization. I want to pay tribute, first of all, to my 
distinguished colleague, Mr. Brown of Ohio, who has fought for this 
necessary legislation with the courage and passion that he brings to so 
many important policy matters in this body. He is truly a champion for 
human rights, and I am proud to serve with him. I also want to pay 
tribute to our colleague Gerald Solomon, who has been a leading 
supporter of Taiwan for many decades.
  House Concurrent Resolution 334 addresses a matter that, in my 
strongly held opinion, should transcend the political divides that 
characterize the complex China-Taiwan issue. This bill is about the 
health of children and adults, and about not letting the political 
anachronism of Taiwan's exclusion from the international community 
limit the ability of its children to receive medical treatments, 
vaccines, and support services that would allow them to fight disease 
with greater effectiveness and efficiency.
  As we debate this issue this afternoon, Taiwan is attempting to cope 
with a fatal outbreak of a new, virulent strain of enterovirus type 71. 
This disease is highly contagious, and it strikes children and infants 
with devastating consequences, causing sever inflammation of muscles 
surrounding the brain, spinal cord, and heart. In the month of June 
alone, more than 50 children died from this horrible affliction.
  Mr. Speaker, we have a moral responsibility to do everything in our 
power to ease the suffering of the Taiwanese people, and to achieve 
this end we must endorse Taiwan's participation in the WHO. The WHO has 
the capacity to the provide medical research and supplies to assuage 
the impact of the enterovirus epidemic, and we must not allow 
diplomatic technicalities to impede this worthy goal.
  It is most appropriate that we encourage involvement by Taiwan in the 
WHO. Taiwan is a country of some 22 million people, with an advanced 
medical and research infrastructure and a highly trained cadre of 
medical personnel--many of whom have been educated at the finest 
universities in the United States.
  Taiwan has much to contribute as a member of the WHO--it should be a 
member, it should be working with other nations to improve world 
health. The exclusion of Taiwan from the WHO has everything to do with 
petty politics and misguided pride in Beijing, but it is a great loss 
to the world community to exclude Taiwan.
  Mr. Speaker, I emphatically urge my colleagues to join me in standing 
up for the human rights of the children of Taiwan by voting for House 
Concurrent Resolution 334.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent 
Resolution 334. This resolution expresses the sense of the Congress 
that Taiwan and its 21 million people should have appropriate and 
meaningful participation in the World Health Organization (WHO).
  The WHO Constitution 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. Taiwanese physicians and health experts are 
not allowed to take part in WHO-organized forums and workshops 
regarding the latest techniques in the diagnosis, monitoring and 
control of diseases. Taiwanese doctors do not have access to WHO 
medical protocols and health standards.
  This is simply not right. Diseases do not stop at national 
boundaries, and with today's high frequency of international travel, 
the possibility of transmitting infectious diseases is greater than 
ever. Good health is a basic right for every citizen of the world, and 
Taiwan should be granted membership in the WHO.
  Despite its exclusion from the WHO, Taiwan has made some remarkable 
achievements in the field of health, including one of the highest life 
expectancy levels in Asia, maternal and infant mortality rates 
comparable to those of western countries, and the eradication of 
infectious diseases such as smallpox and the plague. Taiwan is the 
first Asian nation to be rid of polio and the first country in the 
world to provide children with free hepatitis B vaccinations.
  Prior to 1972 and its loss of membership in the WHO, Taiwan sent 
specialists to serve on health projects in other members countries, and 
its experts held key positions in the WHO. In recent years, the 
Taiwanese government has expressed a willingness to assist financially 
or technically in WHO-supported international aid and health 
activities, but it has been unable to render such assistance because it 
is unable to participate in the international health organization.
  Taiwan's population of 21 million people is larger than three-
quarters of the member states already in the WHO. Clearly, Taiwan and 
the world community could benefit by its participation in the WHO. I 
believe the United States should actively support Taiwan's membership 
in the World Health Organization.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I insert the following for the 
Record.

                [From the Washington Post, July 8, 1998]

                    Don't Taiwanese Children Count?

                           (By Sherrod Brown)

       While President Clinton was visiting China, scores of 
     Taiwanese children just across the straits were continuing to 
     fight for their lives against a new, deadly virus. 
     Unfortunately, the doctors treating this illness do not have 
     access to the medical resources of the World Health 
     Organization (WHO) because the regime in China will not 
     permit Taiwan to gain membership. The fact that Taiwan is 
     severely crippled in its effort to save children is a 
     tragedy, with deadly implications for children the world over 
     if this virus is not halted.

[[Page H10266]]

       Taiwan is in the grip of a fatal epidemic that's showing no 
     sign of slowing down. Over the past month, more than 50 
     children have reportedly died due to the outbreak of a 
     virulent strain of enterovirus type 71, which causes severe 
     inflammation of muscles surrounding the brain, spinal cord 
     and heart. Infants and children are most vulnerable to this 
     highly contagious virus.
       Physicians treating the children unfortunately do not have 
     access to the best medical information available because 
     Taiwan is not allowed membership in the WHO, and cannot share 
     in the organization's vital resources and expertise. This 
     issue should not be about geopolitics; it should be about 
     helping humanity.
       Over the past half-century, the WHO has become the foremost 
     international organization working to control and eradicate 
     disease and to improve health for people the world over. 
     Through the WHO's highly effective immunization programs, 
     millions of children live better, longer and healthier lives. 
     The WHO has already helped protect some eight out of 10 
     children worldwide from major childhood diseases, including 
     measles and tuberculosis, and has worked to reduce the global 
     infant morality rate by 37 percent since 1970. The WHO was 
     also instrumental in eradicating the smallpox epidemic, which 
     spread to 31 countries in the late 1960s and claimed nearly 
     two million lives.
       Children suffer from the effects of inadequate health care, 
     whether they live in Los Angeles, Milan, Hong Kong, or 
     Taipei. With the high frequency of international travel, the 
     risk of transmitting infectious diseases such as AIDS, the 
     Hong Kong bird flu and the enteovirus is greater than ever. 
     In addition, increased international trade leads to a greater 
     potential for the cross-border spread of such deadly viruses.
       I believe the denial of WHO membership to Taiwan is an 
     unjustifiable violation of its people's fundamental human 
     rights. Good health is a basic right for every citizen of the 
     world, and Taiwan's admission to the WHO would greatly help 
     foster that right for its people.
       China, of course, is not the only obstacle to Taiwan's 
     admission to the WHO. The Clinton administration, as with the 
     two previous administrations, does not support Taiwan's 
     participation in international organizations. However, the 
     U.S. State Department's 1994 Taiwan Policy Review clearly 
     stated it would more actively support Taiwan's membership in 
     international organizations when the U.S. government 
     determines that ``it is clearly appropriate.''
       I and more than 50 of my colleagues in the House believe 
     U.S. support for Taiwan's admission to the WHO is and has 
     long been ``clearly appropriate.'' Last February, I 
     introduced a resolution expressing the sense of Congress that 
     Taiwan and its people should be represented in the WHO and 
     that it should be U.S. policy to support Taiwan's membership.
       As the WHO celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, the 
     organization can proudly claim 191 nations as members. But 
     for the past 25 years, Taiwan has been shut out of the WHO 
     because of China's continued intransigence toward its small 
     island neighbor. Every day, children and the elderly in 
     Taiwan suffer needlessly because their doctors aren't able to 
     have access to WHO medical protocols that save lives. The 
     longer we wait, the more desperate the situation in Taiwan 
     grows. We must act immediately to right a very serious wrong.
  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent 
Resolution 334, Relating to Taiwan's Participation in the World Health 
Organization.
  I congratulate Mr. Sherrod Brown for the intense efforts he has made 
to bring this resolution before the House. House Concurrent Resolution 
334 is a substitute resolution to House Joint Resolution 126, which Mr. 
Brown had introduced earlier and which I was a cosponsor.
  This resolution calls attention to what I think we would all consider 
a basic human right, that is the right of every citizen to good health 
and access to the highest standards of health information and services. 
Denying a country of 21 million people to such international 
institutions as the World Health Organization should embarrass the 
member states of the United Nations who insist on keeping those doors 
shut to the Taiwanese people.
  But I think this resolution points up an even more egregious mistake 
by the international community. The fundamental issue is not whether or 
not Taiwan should be a member of the World Health Organization. The 
issue is whether or not the international community should exclude a 
country like Taiwan from membership in any international organizations. 
We have a situation today in which pariah nations such as North Korea, 
Iraq, and Burma are members of the United Nations and actively 
participate--mostly in a negative fashion in terms of American 
interests--in all the activities of the United Nations and its 
specialized agencies. Whereas Taiwan which is democratic, with a free 
market economy, and with the third largest foreign exchange reserves in 
the world is unable to participate in almost every international 
organization.
  There is something out of balance here that needs to be rectified. 
The Clinton administration in 1994 Taiwan Policy Review vowed to seek 
Taiwanese membership in ``appropriate'' international organizations. So 
far, no ``appropriate'' organizations have been found. I would urge the 
administration to intensify its search.
  I think there are such organizations readily at hand in this city: 
the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
  We are in the midst of a world economic crisis. Some respected 
economists even paint the dismal picture of an imminent world 
depression. The devastating effects of economic collapse are already 
apparent in the developing country and they are spreading to other 
states. The world's economy is sick. With foreign exchange reserves 
totaling $88 billion, Taiwan has some of the medicine which can help 
the rest of the world recover. We should be seeking for ways to help 
Taiwan contribute to the well-being of the international community, not 
finding ways to exclude Taiwan.
  I am proud to be a cosponsor of the original resolution and, as 
ranking member of the Asia and Pacific Subcommittee of the 
International Relations Committee, I urge my colleagues to support the 
one before us today.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity to 
express my strong support for House Concurrent Resolution 334 calling 
for Taiwan's participation in World Health Organization (WHO) 
activities because it is good policy. It is my hope that the United 
States will support this bid.
  It does not matter where people live. They may live in the Chinatown 
area of my district, the 7th Congressional District of Illinois, or on 
the West Coast in Seattle, Washington, or overseas in Taipei, Taiwan. 
Regardless, the humane thing to do is to care for ill children, the 
elderly, all people. Are we playing politics with the 21 million people 
that reside in Taiwan? I am a firm believer in that the people shall 
not suffer as a result of government policies. If women and children 
are ailing, we need to assist in whatever way possible that is within 
our means.
  The bottom line is that the people of Taiwan can access better 
healthcare if the country is allowed representation in the World Health 
Organization.
  Moreover, in recent years the people of Taiwan have successfully 
defended their participation in a number of multilateral groups, 
including, but not limited to the Asian Development Bank, the Pacific 
Basin Economic Council. Although the composition for their 
participation varies from group to group, their pragmatic importance is 
inevitable.
  I urge my colleagues to recognize the importance of the country of 
Taiwan in the global arena and support their entry into the WHO.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Solomon) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, House 
Concurrent Resolution 334.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5, rule I, and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

                          ____________________