[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 79 (Monday, May 14, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1035]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           TAIWAN IN THE WHO

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GREG WALDEN

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 14, 2007

  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Madam Speaker, today in Geneva, Switzerland the 
60th annual meeting will commence of the World Health Assembly, the 
supreme decision making body of the World Health Organization. This 
year the government of Taiwan is applying for membership to the WHO and 
Taiwan has been applying to participate in the activities of the WHO 
since 1997 but they have been rejected due to various political 
pressures.
  I think it's important that Taiwan be granted membership in the WHO. 
Taiwan is struggling to participate in the WHO not only for the sake of 
its 23 million citizens but also for the welfare of the 1.3 billion 
people in mainland China. With expansion of travel and trade between 
Taiwan and mainland China, contagious diseases can spread rapidly. 
Successful monitoring and prevention of infectious diseases requires 
cooperation from all nations.
  Taiwan has a modern, world-class health care system and has lent its 
talents and resources to peoples in need throughout Asia and around the 
world. Such capabilities are particularly important in this era of 
globalization, and as apprehensions continue to grow about the 
emergence of dangerous illnesses such as SARS and the Avian Flu. For 
example, when the Avian Flu pandemic struck parts of Asia in 2004, 
Taiwan undertook a number of preventive measures to combat the outbreak 
and protect its population and those of other countries. As a result of 
this swift and innovative work, Taiwan has not experienced an outbreak 
of the avian influenza and has deterred its proliferation elsewhere.
  The WHO plays a critical role in safeguarding and improving the 
health of the world population, and I support its admirable record of 
achievement as a guardian of international health. A glaring deficiency 
in the WHO's global program, however, is the fact that the 23 million 
people of democratic Taiwan are not allowed to contribute to, 
participate in, or benefit from its important initiatives.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in my support of Taiwan's bid for 
membership in the World Health Organization. For the sake of Taiwan's 
citizens as well as their neighbors and partners in Asia and around the 
world, granting membership is the wise and equitable thing to do.

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