[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 71 (Tuesday, May 13, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E942-E943]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             ALLOW TAIWAN A SEAT AT THE GLOBAL HEALTH TABLE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SHERROD BROWN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 13, 2003

  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, Taiwan--along with nations across the 
globe--has been struck by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). On 
April 26, the first Taiwanese citizen died from the virus. SARS has 
resulted in hundreds of deaths worldwide and hospitalized thousands. 
WHO measures have been critical to containing the spread of SARS, and 
to providing nations with accurate and timely information to better 
combat this world health threat.
  Despite the dangers SARS poses to 23 million Taiwanese citizens, the 
WHO delayed Taiwan's effort to contain the spread of SARS, placing the 
health of the entire nation in jeopardy. This crisis highlights the 
urgency surrounding Taiwan's obtaining observer status in the WHO at 
the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland beginning next week.
  I urge my colleagues to read the following op-ed by President Chen 
Shui-bian that recently appeared in the Washington Post.

                [From the Washington Post, May 9, 2003]

                         Help Taiwan Fight SARS

                          (By Chen Shui-bian)

       The outbreak and spread of severe acute respiratory 
     syndrome, or SARS, has brought illness, death and economic 
     peril to Asia and the rest of the world. It has also drawn 
     attention to Taiwan's exclusion from the World Health 
     Organization. If there was ever a time for my country to be 
     allowed to join the WHO, it is now.
       As Taiwan's democratically elected president, my first and 
     foremost obligation is to the people of Taiwan. When SARS 
     first appeared in Taiwan in March, our health system 
     responded quickly and effectively. As a result, Taiwan 
     initially achieved a record of zero mortality, zero community 
     transmission and zero transmission abroad of SARS. But 
     despite our efforts, another outbreak occurred in late April. 
     We have taken strict measures in response, and are working 
     day and night to contain the disease.
       Throughout this health crisis, my government has acted in 
     the best interest of our people and of foreign nationals 
     living in and visiting Taiwan. At no time has my 
     administration suppressed information about the disease. Our 
     press has reported freely on SARS. More important, our 
     officials know that they are accountable to the people, both 
     morally and at the ballot box. Whatever problems arise for 
     Taiwan, we will solve them according to the highest standards 
     of medicine, government accountability and human compassion.
       I also have an obligation to the world. Taiwan is a nation 
     of 23 million people and a major trading partner for many 
     countries. What happens in Taiwan affects many millions more 
     around the world. For that reason, Taiwan immediately offered 
     to work with the WHO in combating SARS. Unfortunately, we 
     were rebuffed. However, in response to the most recent rise 
     in the number of cases, and for the first time in decades, 
     two experts from the WHO arrived in Taiwan last week. I 
     welcome this assistance and have directed my government and 
     called on my people to cooperate fully with them.
       The WHO's decision to send these experts to Taiwan has 
     great significance. It demonstrates that Taiwan is 
     indispensable to international public health. But it also 
     suggests that cooperation between the WHO and Taiwan should 
     not be left to ad hoc arrangements.
       Despite my country's advanced health system, staffed by 
     doctors and nurses educated in highly respected institutions 
     at home and abroad, and despite a strong desire to 
     participate in the WHO, Taiwan is denied membership or even 
     observer status in the organization. As a consequence, our 
     epidemiologists are still unable to gain prompt access to 
     information, such as samples of the virus, that could help 
     our scientists learn about the disease and treat patients. 
     Nevertheless, we have tried to provide information to 
     international organizations to ensure that Taiwan can make 
     the maximum contribution to solving this health problem.
       The effort to understand and control SARS continues. Viral 
     experts seek answers to important questions. Doctors and 
     health professionals on the front line of the battle against 
     SARS need as much information as possible to be able to deal 
     with the disease. Moreover, like the WHO, international 
     health officials need as much data as

[[Page E943]]

     possible about SARS and the way it behaves in different 
     environments and among different populations.
       Taiwan, with a population larger than those of three-
     quarters of the countries of the world, is a piece of a 
     global puzzle that experts need to understand to cope with 
     the virus. Taiwan has long wanted not only to benefit from 
     the WHO's expertise but also to share the responsibility that 
     all countries have to global public health. Many health care 
     professionals around the world have expressed their support 
     for Taiwan's admission to the WHO as an observer. We are 
     grateful.
       We hope that at the WHO meeting on May 19, this important 
     organization will invite Taiwan to be an observer. Taiwan's 
     people should not be excluded from efforts to defeat SARS. 
     Nor should the rest of the world be denied the important 
     contribution Taiwan can and wants to make to global health.