[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 52 (Tuesday, April 24, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H1503-H1506]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONCERNING PARTICIPATION OF TAIWAN IN WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 428) concerning the participation of Taiwan in the World Health
Organization, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 428
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. CONCERNING THE PARTICIPATION OF TAIWAN IN THE
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO).
(a) Findings.--The Congress makes the following findings:
(1) 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.
(2) Direct and unobstructed participation in international
health cooperation forums and programs is therefore crucial
for all parts of the world, especially with today's greater
potential for the cross-border spread of various infectious
diseases such as AIDS.
(3) Taiwan's population of 23,500,000 people is larger than
that of \3/4\ of the member states already in the World
Health Organization (WHO).
(4) 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, and the first to be rid of polio and to provide
children with free hepatitis B vaccinations.
(5) The United States Centers for Disease Control and its
Taiwan counterpart agencies have enjoyed close collaboration
on a wide range of public health issues.
(6) In recent years Taiwan has expressed a willingness to
assist financially and technically in international aid and
health activities supported by the WHO.
(7) On January 14, 2001, an earthquake, registering between
7.6 and 7.9 on the Richter scale, struck El Salvador. In
response, the Taiwanese government sent 2 rescue teams,
consisting of 90 individuals specializing in firefighting,
medicine, and civil engineering. The Taiwanese Ministry of
Foreign Affairs also donated $200,000 in relief aid to the
Salvadoran Government.
(8) The World Health Assembly has allowed observers to
participate in the activities of the organization, including
the Palestine Liberation Organization in 1974, the Order of
Malta, and the Holy See in the early 1950's.
(9) The United States, in the 1994 Taiwan Policy Review,
declared its intention to support Taiwan's participation in
appropriate international organizations.
(10) Public Law 106-137 required the Secretary of State to
submit a report to the Congress on efforts by the executive
branch to support Taiwan's participation in international
organizations, in particular the WHO.
(11) In light of all the benefits that Taiwan's
participation in the WHO can bring to the state of health not
only in Taiwan, but also regionally and globally, Taiwan and
its 23,500,000 people should have appropriate and meaningful
participation in the WHO.
(b) Plan.--The Secretary of State shall 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 shall instruct the
United States delegation to Geneva to implement that plan.
(c) Report.--Not later than 14 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit a
written report to the Congress in unclassified form
containing the plan required under subsection (b).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Iowa (Mr. Leach) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) each will
control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach).
Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to support this legislation which would require
the administration to initiate a plan to endorse and obtain observer
status for Taiwan in the World Health Organization during the May 2001
World Health Assembly meeting in Geneva.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the gentleman from Ohio
(Mr. Brown) for initiating this resolution. I would like to stress that
nothing in this bill implies a change in this country's one China
policy, which has been based for over 30 years on three communiques and
the Taiwan Relations Act; but care should be taken not to arbitrarily
exclude the 23 million people of Taiwan from appropriate economic and
humanitarian venues.
This legislation recommends a symbolic step underscoring that where
sovereignty is not in question, Taiwan ought to be brought into as many
international organizations as possible. It already is a member of the
Asian Development Bank, as well as APEC. In this context, WHO is a
constructive
[[Page H1504]]
and thoughtful avenue for international participation by the government
and people of Taiwan.
Mr. Speaker, disease and national disasters know no borders. Indeed,
arguably the greatest international issue in the world today may be
disease control, whether we are discussing the issue of HIV/AIDS, TB or
other communicable diseases.
What the WHO issue symbolizes is a people-oriented concern for
control of disease. Taiwan should not be excluded from such concern,
and in fact has stepped forward to provide, in a number of instances,
assistance and relief in other parts of the world, such as the recent
earthquake circumstance in El Salvador.
Let me say this is a very modest step. It is a symbolic step, and it
is a step towards achievement of observer status in a very appropriate
humanitarian international organization. Other groups, such as the PLO
and the Knights of Malta, have observer status at the World Health
Assembly, and it would be very appropriate that Taiwan should accede to
the same type of status.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) for yielding
me this time and for his leadership and assistance on this issue.
On May 20 of last year, Chen Shui-bian was sworn in as the President
of Taiwan. This was a historic event, the first major transfer of power
from one political party to a rival political party in Chinese or
Taiwanese history. Mature democracies like ours take such political
shifts for granted, but the peaceful exchange of power in many regions
of the world is a rare legacy. Taiwan now shares in it.
Taiwan has evolved into a stable, prosperous nation governed by the
rule of law. Taiwan's 40-year journey toward democracy is a success
story, one which we should celebrate, one which we should acknowledge,
and we should reward that process.
Mr. Speaker, to that end I introduced H.R. 428 requiring the State
Department to initiate a plan to endorse and obtain observer status for
Taiwan in this year's World Health Assembly. Ninety-two colleagues have
joined in cosponsoring this bill. Fostering Taiwan's participation in
the World Health Assembly is a modest step, but a meaningful one.
Observer status in the World Health Organization does not require
statehood. As the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) said, the Knights of
Malta, the Palestinian Liberal Organization, the Vatican, and Rotary
International all share observer status at the WHO.
Mr. Speaker, passing this bill will be a significant victory for
every Taiwanese citizen, and for every American who cares about human
rights. Children and families suffer from the effects of inadequate
health care, whether they live in Washington or Geneva or Taipei or
Beijing. With the high frequency of international travel and the
increase in international trade, the risk of transmitting infectious
diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis and AIDS within and across
national borders is greater than ever.
Mr. Speaker, 3 years ago Taiwan suffered an outbreak of enterovirus
71, a potentially fatal disease that causes severe inflammation of
muscles surrounding the brain, heart and spinal cord. Infants and
children are particularly vulnerable to this highly contagious virus.
Unfortunately, the Taiwanese doctors treating this virus did not have
access to the medical resources because they do not have observer
status at WHO. By the time the outbreak was under control, 70 Taiwanese
children had died.
Mr. Speaker, had Taiwan been permitted to draw on WHO expertise,
these children might still be alive. The fact that Taiwan remains
handicapped in its effort to combat global illness is a tragedy. The
fact that Taiwan remains handicapped in its efforts to save children is
a crime, in some sense, in which we are all implicated. Our
government's tacit support for the status quo, our unwillingness to
fight for Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization is
not only shortsighted, it is unjustifiable.
Infectious diseases do not respect politically driven distinctions or
politically drawn national borders. Infectious diseases travel. If
there is TB in Taiwan, there will more likely be TB in the United
States. If there is AIDS in South Africa, there will be, inevitably be,
AIDS in Western Europe. Global illnesses are just that: Global. No
country is immune when one country faces a health crisis.
This week, the administration decided to sell four KIDD Class
destroyers to Taiwan, despite threats from China. If our commitment to
Taiwan is strong enough to justify supporting its military defense, it
is certainly strong enough to justify supporting access to global
health resources for Taiwan's 23.5 million people.
Mr. Speaker, Taiwan is a country with a strong medical community.
They have good scientific research, have a good public health
community; and with their participation in WHO, they will contribute to
the WHO as WHO information contributes to Taiwan.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the strong support that H.R. 428 has
received from both sides of the aisle, and I look forward to the bill's
passage today.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman
from Arkansas (Mr. Snyder), who is a physician and has practiced
medicine around the world.
Mr. SNYDER. Mr. Speaker, I support this resolution, and agree with
the intent of the sponsors in bringing it forward today.
As a family doctor who has worked in medicine in several different
nations, including Africa and Asia, I know that health problems and
disease do not wait for political divisions to be solved or for
political problems to be overcome. Ten days ago during this recess, I
visited Sierra Leone and Guinea. I had worked in Sierra Leone for 6
months in 1983 and 1984. For the last 10 years, there has been a civil
war going on in Sierra Leone which is now going across the border into
Guinea. I was helicoptered to the site of the hospital I worked at 10
years ago. The hospital had been burned to the ground several years ago
by the rebels. Some of the villagers that were there told me that there
were a number of people killed by the RUF, this rebel force, when they
destroyed the hospital.
Mr. Speaker, why am I bringing up this issue on this resolution with
Taiwan; because the rebels in Sierra Leone have been supported by
Charles Taylor, the leader of Liberia. And Taiwan, unfortunately,
contrary to every nation in the world, has been developing closer ties
over this last decade with Charles Taylor in Liberia. The Taiwanese
government has been very clear it is because Charles Taylor has
expressed support for Taiwan in their efforts to be included in the
United Nations.
Mr. Speaker, while the United States has been supportive of Taiwan, I
hope that the government of Taiwan will be sensitive to the
international community's efforts to end support for these rebels in
Sierra Leone. From press reports, Taiwanese government officials have
been quoted as praising Charles Taylor for promoting peace and dialogue
in West Africa. Charles Taylor has not been promoting peace and
dialogue, he has been promoting violence and a brutal civil war; and I
encourage our friends in Taiwan to be a part of the international
community, just like they want to be a part of the WHO and end their
developing relationship with Charles Taylor.
Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman
from Illinois (Mr. Davis) who has fought for justice around the world.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity to
actually commend all of those who are sponsors of this bill. As a
matter of fact, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) and others have
understood the tremendous developments that are taking place in Taiwan.
Mr. Speaker, I recently had the good fortune to be in Taiwan and meet
with health officials, and they have developed serious movement towards
high quality health care and health services. As a matter of fact,
there is much that other countries could, in fact, learn from what they
have been able to do; and so I would join with those who urge
[[Page H1505]]
that they be provided opportunity to enter into the dialogue at the
World Health Organization in all of its actions and interactions so
that not only will they benefit, but so that the rest of the world can
benefit from what they have learned and what they are doing.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the legislation
before us, H.R. 428, which calls for Taiwan's participation in the
World Health Organization (WHO). To facilitate this important goal, the
measure requires the Secretary of State to undertake efforts to endorse
and obtain observer status for Taiwan at next month's summit meeting in
Geneva of the World Health Assembly, and for the Secretary to submit
the plan of action to Congress.
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the author of the legislation, the
distinguished gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Sherrod Brown, for his
leadership on this issue. I further commend the gentleman from
Illinois, Mr. Hyde, the Chairman of the House International Relations
Committee, and the Committee's Ranking Democrat, the gentleman from
California, Mr. Lantos, for bringing this matter to the floor. I am
proud to join my colleagues as a co-sponsor of this bipartisan
legislation.
Mr. Speaker, the World Health Organization (WHO) is the preeminent
international health organization on the planet. In its charter, the
WHO sets forth the crucial objective of attaining the highest possible
level of health for all people, yet today the 23 million citizens of
Taiwan are still denied appropriate and meaningful participation in the
international health forums and programs conducted by the WHO. This is
simply wrong and inexcusable, Mr. Speaker, and Congress has spoken out
in the past that this should be corrected.
Access to the World Health Organization ensures that the highest
standards of health information and services are provided, facilitating
the eradication of disease and improvement of public health worldwide.
The work of the WHO is particularly crucial today given the tremendous
volume of international travel, which has heightened the transmission
of communicable diseases between borders.
With over 190 participants in the World Health Organization, it is a
travesty that Taiwan is not permitted to receive WHO benefits,
especially when you consider Taiwan's 23 million citizens outnumber the
population of three-fourths of the WHO's member states. This lack of
access to WHO protections has caused the good people of Taiwan to
suffer needlessly, such as in 1998 when a deadly, yet preventable,
virus killed 70 Taiwanese children and infected more than 1,100 others.
Mr. Speaker, there is no good nor valid reason why Taiwan should be
denied observer status with the World Health Organization. As a strong
democracy and one of the world's most robust economies, Taiwan
rightfully should participate in the health services and medical
protections offered by the WHO. Conversely, the WHO stands to benefit
significantly from the financial and technological contributions that
Taiwan has offered many times in the past.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge our colleagues to adopt this worthy and
important legislation.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the initiative
by the gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Brown, concerning Taiwan's
participation in the World Health Organization. I comment our
Distinguished Chairman Mr. Hyde and our ranking Minority Member, Mr.
Lantos and the Subcommittee Chairmen and Ranking Minority Members of
the International Operations and Human Rights and East Asia and the
Pacific for crafting and bringing this resolution to the Floor at this
time.
As Secretary Powell noted in testimony before our Committee, there
should be ways for Taiwan to enjoy the full benefits of participation
in international organizations without being a member. H.R. 428 only
calls for the Secretary of State to initiate a U.S. plan to endorse and
obtain observer status at the World Health Organization (WHO) for
Taiwan.
In recent years Taiwan has expressed a willingness to assist
financially and technically in international aid and health activities
supported by the WHO, but has not been able to render such assistance
because Taiwan is not a member of the WHO.
The WHO has allowed observers to participate in the activities of the
organization, including the Palestinian Liberation Organization, the
Knights of Malta, and the Vatican.
Along with many of my colleagues, I am extremely disappointed that
Taiwan is not a full member of the UN and all international
organizations that its democratically led government wishes to join.
Although this resolution does not absolutely address this concern it is
nevertheless a first step in addressing the problem that confronts
Taiwan.
Accordingly I strongly support H.R. 428.
Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 428, a
bill concerning Taiwan and the World Health Organization (WHO), and
commend Representative Brown for his work on this issue. H.R. 428 would
recognize that Taiwan and its 21 million people deserve an appropriate
role in the WHO.
There are three things the bill seeks to promote. First, H.R. 428
puts the U.S. Congress on record, again, as strongly supporting
Taiwan's request to play a more active role in international
organizations. This support reflects the results of the 1994 Taiwan
Policy Review conducted by the Clinton Administration which declared
its intention to support Taiwan's participation in international
organizations and to make every effort to make sure that this important
goal is accomplished.
Second, this legislation will move Taiwan toward membership in the
WHO. Such membership could benefit Taiwan tremendously. For example, in
1998, the WHO was unable to assist Taiwan with an outbreak of a virus
that killed 70 children and infected 1,100 more. WHO membership could
have prevented needless deaths and sickness.
Third, the WHO could benefit enormously from Taiwan's more active
participation in the WHO. Taiwan has made tremendous achievements in
the field of health, and the WHO should have full access to Taiwan's
technical and financial assistance.
Mr. Speaker, the bill requires the State Department to initiate a
plan to endorse and obtain observer status for Taiwan at the annual
summit of the World Health Assembly, next month in Geneva. I believe
that this is an appropriate step for the United States to take in
support Taiwan's participation in international organizations.
I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
Mr. DeLAY. Mr. Speaker, this bill is a step in the right direction.
It requires the Secretary of State to endorse and to work to obtain
observer status for Taiwan in the World Health Organization.
The 24 million people of Taiwan are building a thriving Democracy.
It's the policy of the United States to support Taiwan's
participation in International Organizations.
To lead the Free World, we must act on our responsibility by standing
up for democracy and our democratic allies.
Taiwan is an island of freedom, but it is surrounded by the constant
threat of Communist oppression from Mainland China.
Taiwan's participation in world organizations deserves recognition.
They are one of our largest trading partners and they are a free and
democratic nation that has recently undertaken a free, peaceful,
democratic transition of power.
If we are going to support international organizations, we can't deny
admission to free, democratic societies, with populations and economies
that are larger than three quarters of the other participating nations.
That would be unfair and it would constitute an abdication of American
leadership.
Taiwan is a symbol of freedom and opportunity for the billion and a
half Chinese held captive under communist rule.
Democracy, and the support for human rights that goes with it, is
spreading throughout the world--we should reward and encourage it at
every possible opportunity.
We should stand by our friends. We should stand up for freedom and
democracy. We should never waver on matters of fundamental principle.
And that means we must stand with Taiwan.
Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 428, which states
that Taiwan should have appropriate and meaningful participation in the
World Health Organization (WHO). The legislation also requires the
State Department to initiate a U.S. plan to endorse and obtain observer
status for Taiwan at the annual summit of the World Health Assembly in
May 2001 in Geneva. In particular, I would like to commend
Representative Sherrod Brown for his leadership on this issue.
In the 1994 Taiwan Policy Review Act, the U.S. declared its intention
to support Taiwan's participation in international organizations. We
should abide by our intentions and support Taiwan's participation at
the WHO.
The WHO is an organization dedicated to preventing the spread of
disease and coordinating efforts on international health work. In a
time when resources to fight global infectious diseases are scarce, we
should encourage assistance and coordination from all sources. The
global efforts to save lives should not take a back seat to China's
global campaign against Taiwan.
Taiwan should be able to benefit from and contribute to the work of
the WHO. As an official observer, Taiwan would assist in preventing the
spread of global diseases. Taiwan's achievements in health are
substantial, including high life expectancy levels and low maternal and
infant mortality rates compared to other developed countries. Taiwan
could assist both financially and technically in international aid and
health activities benefiting people all over the world. Unfortunately,
Taiwan has been unable to render such assistance through the WHO
because it is not able to participate.
[[Page H1506]]
Taiwan's WHO entry is clearly being held hostage to the Chinese
government. Last year, Beijing successfully blocked Taiwan's observer
status in the World Health Organization. China led nine other nations--
including Cuba and Pakistan in striking down Taiwan's motion ``due to
international political realities and China's objections.'' It is time
for the U.S. to honor its commitments and support the right of 21
million Taiwanese people to assist and benefit from WHO participation.
Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I would just like to conclude by again congratulating the gentleman
from Ohio (Mr. Brown) for this fine resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 428, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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