[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 20, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S801]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 26--RELATING TO TAIWAN'S PARTICIPATION IN THE WORLD 
                          HEALTH ORGANIZATION

  Mr. MURKOWSKI (for himself, Mr. Torricelli, Mr. Helms, Mr. Thomas, 
Mr. Mack and Mr. Smith of Oregon) submitted the following resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                               S. Res. 26

       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 increase 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 the World Health Organization was unable to assist 
     Taiwan with an outbreak of enterovirus 71 which killed 70 
     Taiwanese children and infected more than 1,100 Taiwanese 
     children in 1998;
       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 Republic of China on 
     Taiwan's 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 the World Health Organization allows observers to 
     participate in the activities of the organization;
       Whereas the United States, in 1994 Taiwan Policy Review, 
     declared its intention to support Taiwan's participation in 
     appropriate international organizations; and
       Whereas in light of all of the benefits that Taiwan's 
     participation in the World Health Organization could bring to 
     the state of health not only in Taiwan, but also regionally 
     and globally: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate, That it is the sense of the Senate 
     that--
       (1) Taiwan and its 21,000,000 people should have 
     appropriate and meaningful participation in the World Health 
     Organization;
       (2) the Secretary of State should report to the Senate 
     Foreign Relations Committee by April 1, 1999 on the efforts 
     of the Secretary to fulfill the commitment made in the 1994 
     Taiwan Policy Review to more actively support Taiwan's 
     membership in international organizations that accept non-
     states as members, and to look for ways to have Taiwan's 
     voice heard in international organizations; and
       (3) the Secretary of State shall report to the Senate 
     Foreign Relations Committee by April 1, 1999 on what action 
     the United States will take at the May 1999 World Health 
     Organization meeting in Geneva to support Taiwan's meaningful 
     participation.

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