[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 69 (Wednesday, April 27, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H4550-H4552]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PARTICIPATION OF TAIWAN IN THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (S. 812) to direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to
regain observer status for Taiwan in the World Health Organization, and
for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 812
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. PARTICIPATION OF TAIWAN IN THE WORLD HEALTH
ORGANIZATION.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized
agency of the United Nations, charged with coordinating
health efforts within the United Nations system. The World
Health Assembly (WHA) is the decision-making body of the WHO,
which convenes annually in May to set the policies and
priorities of the organization. Statehood is not a
requirement for attendance at the WHA, and numerous
observers, including non-members and non-governmental
organizations, attended the most recent virtual WHA in May
2020.
(2) Taiwan began seeking to participate in the WHO as an
observer in 1997. In 2009, with strong support from
successive United States Administrations, Congress, and like-
minded WHO Member States, and during a period of improved
Cross-Strait relations, Taiwan received an invitation to
attend the WHA as an observer under the name ``Chinese
Taipei''. Taiwan received the same invitation each year until
2016, when following the election of President Tsai-Ing Wen
of the Democratic Progressive Party, Taiwan's engagement in
the international community began facing increased resistance
from the People's Republic of China (PRC). Taiwan's
invitation to the 2016 WHA was received late and included new
language conditioning Taiwan's participation on the PRC's
``one China principle''. The WHO did not invite Taiwan to
attend the WHA as an observer in 2017, 2018, 2019, or 2020.
(3) Taiwan remains a model contributor to world health,
having provided financial and technical assistance to respond
to numerous global health challenges. Taiwan has invested
over $6,000,000,000 in international medical and humanitarian
aid efforts impacting over 80 countries since 1996. In 2014,
Taiwan responded to the Ebola crisis by donating $1,000,000
and providing 100,000 sets of personal protective equipment.
Through the Global Cooperation and Training Framework, the
United States and Taiwan have jointly conducted training
programs for experts to combat MERS, Dengue Fever, and Zika.
In 2020, after successfully containing the spread of the
novel coronavirus within its borders while upholding
democratic principles, Taiwan generously donated millions of
pieces of personal protective equipment and COVID-19 tests to
countries in need. These diseases know no borders, and
Taiwan's needless exclusion from global health cooperation
increases the dangers presented by global pandemics.
(4) Taiwan's international engagement has faced increased
resistance from the PRC. Taiwan was not invited to the 2016
Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO), despite participating as a guest at the
organization's prior summit in 2013. Taiwan's requests to
participate in the General Assembly of the International
Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) have also been
rejected. In May 2017, PRC delegates disrupted a meeting of
the Kimberley Process on conflict diamonds held in Perth,
Australia, until delegates from Taiwan were asked to leave.
Since 2016, the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe,
the Republic of Panama, the Dominican Republic, Burkina Faso,
the Republic of El Salvador, the Solomon Islands, and the
Republic of Kiribati have terminated longstanding diplomatic
relationships with Taiwan and granted diplomatic recognition
to the PRC.
(5) Congress has established a policy of support for
Taiwan's participation in international bodies that address
shared transnational challenges, particularly in the WHO.
Congress passed H.R. 1794 in the 106th Congress, H.R. 428 in
the 107th Congress, and S. 2092 in the 108th Congress to
direct the Secretary of State to establish a strategy for,
and to report annually to Congress on, efforts to obtain
observer status for Taiwan at the WHA. Congress also passed
H.R. 1151 in the 113th Congress, directing the Secretary to
report on a strategy to gain observer status for Taiwan at
the ICAO Assembly, and H.R. 1853 in the 114th Congress,
directing the Secretary to report on a strategy to gain
observer status for Taiwan at the INTERPOL Assembly. However,
since 2016, Taiwan has not received an invitation to attend
any of these events as an observer.
(b) Augmentation of Report Concerning the Participation of
Taiwan in the World Health Organization.--
(1) In general.--Subsection (c) of section 1 of the Act
entitled, ``To address the participation of Taiwan in the
World Health Organization'' (Public Law 108-235; 22 U.S.C.
290 note) is amended by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(3) An account of the changes and improvements the
Secretary of State has made to the United States plan to
endorse and obtain observer status for Taiwan at the World
Health Assembly, following any annual meetings of the World
Health Assembly at which Taiwan did not obtain observer
status.''.
(2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1)
shall take effect and apply beginning with the first report
required under subsection (c) of section 1 of the Act
entitled, ``To address the participation of Taiwan in the
World Health Organization'' (Public Law 108-235; 22 U.S.C.
290 note) that is submitted after the date of the enactment
of this Act:
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Connolly) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr.
Meuser) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.
General Leave
Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on S. 812.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Virginia?
There was no objection.
Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 812, a bill to direct the
Secretary of State to develop a strategy to regain observer status for
Taiwan in the World Health Organization, and for other purposes.
S. 812 will help support Taiwan's effort to gain observer status at
the World Health Assembly, the decisionmaking body of the World Health
Organization.
Since the end of 2019, the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has
reminded the global community of the importance of international
cooperation and collaboration on global health.
Taiwan has been a leader on global health. While the People's
Republic of China was actively censoring public discussion of and
silencing doctors about the effects and outbreak of the virus in China
itself, Taiwan was saving lives globally with its early detection and
dissemination of information about the virus.
Despite its proximity to the original outbreak in China, Taiwan
employed a strategy of social distancing, border controls, mask
mandates, quarantine,
[[Page H4551]]
and contact tracing so that it succeeded in suppressing widespread
transmission. Incredibly, with a population of 23.5 million, Taiwan
experienced roughly 37,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and fewer than 900
deaths. That is a tremendous feat compared to everybody else.
Taiwan was not only able to use its knowledge to effectively respond
to the COVID-19 pandemic within its own borders, but it shared its
expertise and medical supplies when the world badly needed it most.
Taiwan donated millions of masks and PPE to many countries around the
world, including here in the United States.
These actions symbolize Taiwan's leadership and contributions to
global health security and demonstrate why it ought to be part of the
global conversation on public health. Unfortunately, China has tried to
limit and constrain Taiwan's meaningful participation in all
international organizations, including pressuring the WHO to strip
Taiwan of its observer status in the WHA in 2017. As the co-chair of
the Taiwan Caucus, I can tell you that makes no sense.
This bipartisan measure would support efforts that enable Taiwan to
share its public health expertise and experience with the world at
times when we need it badly.
Led by Senator Menendez, this legislation has already passed the
Senate. The House Foreign Affairs Committee was proud to pass out of
committee a near-identical bipartisan measure led by Representative
Young Kim of California.
Passage of this bill today, ahead of the World Health Assembly
meeting next month, would not only be timely; it would also demonstrate
the strong bipartisan, bicameral commitment the U.S. Congress has to
our democratic friend Taiwan.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to adopt this resolution, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MEUSER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in support of S. 812, directing the Secretary of State to
develop a strategy to regain observer status for Taiwan in the World
Health Organization.
This bill has passed the House in each of the last three Congresses,
so I am glad the two Chambers have finally come together to send this
bill to the President's desk before the World Health Assembly next
month.
I thank Representative Young Kim for introducing the House version of
this bill early last year and former Representative Ted Yoho for his
work on this issue in previous Congresses.
Taiwan is a model contributor to global health, and Taiwan's
exclusion from the WHO isn't just unfair; it is dangerous.
The world is still paying the price of the Chinese Communist Party's
coverup of the original COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan. Taiwan's exclusion
from the World Health Organization made the situation even worse by
depriving the world of Taiwan's early warning.
Unfortunately, Xi Jinping and the CCP are continuing to jeopardize
global health by marginalizing Taiwan. The CCP is hijacking the WHO to
advance its own political agenda. Taiwan has been totally excluded from
participating in the WHO's annual World Health Assembly since 2016.
Despite the CCP's interference, Taiwan is a model democracy that
makes the world a better place. The people of Taiwan deserve to
participate in the World Health Organization, so I urge my colleagues
to support this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MEUSER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
California (Mrs. Kim).
Mrs. KIM of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Meuser
for yielding, and I thank Representative Connolly, Chairman Meeks, and
Ranking Member McCaul for their leadership on this very important
issue.
I rise in strong support of this bipartisan, bicameral effort to help
restore Taiwan's observer status at the World Health Organization and
World Health Assembly.
I am proud to have introduced the House version of this bill, which
has nearly 130 bipartisan cosponsors.
Time and time again, Taiwan has proven to be a trusted ally of the
United States and to be a world leader in global health security.
From 2009 until 2017, Taiwan had observer status in the WHO and WHA,
but it was revoked due to pressure from the Chinese Government. This
bill would direct the Secretary of State to implement a strategy to
restore Taiwan's observer status.
I am hopeful that today we can send a united message to the people of
Taiwan that we value their input and that giving them a seat at the
table benefits all of us.
Support for Taiwan is more important than ever. We all know today
that as Russia invades Ukraine, China is eyeing Taiwan. A threat to
freedom anywhere is a threat to freedom everywhere.
That is why I urge my colleagues to support this effort and give the
people of Taiwan a voice in vital information sharing in the World
Health Organization and World Health Assembly.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to lead this effort and will continue to be
an unwavering voice for global human rights and freedom.
Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MEUSER. Mr. Speaker, diseases and pandemics know no borders.
Taiwan is a critical player in global health, and it is a global
transportation hub. In blocking Taiwan from the WHO, the CCP is placing
the world at risk to soothe their own insecurities.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this legislation, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for
the purpose of closing.
Why is this bill important at this time, Mr. Speaker? It is important
because an authoritarian, delusional autocrat in Moscow is wreaking
havoc and inflicting death on the ground and from the skies on an
innocent people seeking freedom in Ukraine.
It is important that other autocrats and authoritarian regimes
understand that they will pay a heavy price for such behavior, that we
will not resolve disputes that way in the 21st century, and that the
consequences will be severe.
Isolating Taiwan is part of a policy to intimidate, threaten, and
assault democracy on the island of Taiwan. We can't be a party to that.
Taiwan has a voice. Taiwan has expertise. It can contribute in a
pandemic, and it should not be silenced because of somebody's political
agenda. That is what this bill is about. That is why this Congress
should speak with one voice and support this important piece of
legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I urge its passage, and I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I support S. 812, which came to
us from the Senate, and which calls for the Administration to develop a
strategy for Taiwan to regain observer status at the World Health
Organization.
As we know, Taiwan stands as a beacon of democracy in Asia--and
indeed, an example for much of the world--and offers a stark contrast
to the totalitarian model of Xi Jinping across the Taiwan Strait in
Mainland China.
As a result, the People's Republic of China has doubled down on its
longstanding efforts to delegitimize Taiwan and keep it from
participating in international organizations.
As we rediscovered in 2020, however, a deadly virus doesn't play
politics, and crosses borders without regard to diplomatic niceties.
To kowtow to Communist China and exclude Taiwan from having even an
observer status at the World Health Organization is to play politics
with global health.
It is especially galling when one recalls that pernicious
misrepresentations were made by the PRC to the World Health
Organization at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the warnings
sounded by Taiwan as to the true nature and origins of the pandemic
were ignored by the WHO.
Mr. Speaker, I also want to note that I, along with my colleague from
New Jersey, Jeff Van Drew, also introduced legislation last year, H.R.
1775, to provide for a vehicle for victims of State misrepresentations
to the World Health Organization to seek redress using US courts.
I urge my colleagues to support S. 812, and for this Administration
to devise and implement the strategy this timely legislation calls for
to allow our democratic partner Taiwan to accede to the World Health
Organization as an observer.
[[Page H4552]]
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 812, a
bill to direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to regain
observer status for Taiwan in the World Health Organization (WHO), and
for other purposes.
This bill directs the Department of State to include additional
information in its annual reports concerning Taiwan's participation at
the WHO's World Health Assembly (WHA) as an observer.
The report shall describe changes and improvements to the State
Department's plan to support Taiwan's observer status at the WHA,
following any meetings at which Taiwan did not participate under such
status.
The measure also directs the Secretary of State to establish a
strategy for obtaining observer status at the WHA, the decision-making
body of the WHO.
Taiwan is excluded from most global organizations such as the WHO,
the U.N. health agency, because of the objections of China, which
considers the island one of its provinces and not a separate country.
Taiwan cannot be excluded from the global health body because as we
have seen, infectious viruses like the COVID-19 pandemic, have the
ability to transcend all borders.
Taiwan has contributed more than $6 billion in international medical
and humanitarian aid efforts to over 80 countries since 1996 and
donated millions of personal protective and testing equipment during
the COVID-19 crises.
After successfully suppressing the spread of COVID within its
borders, Taiwan also generously donated millions of pieces of personal
protective equipment and testing reagents to countries in need.
Taiwan is an important partner to the United States, and we must
assist their effort to participate at the W.H.O.
Taiwan's absence from the World Health Assembly over the last several
years may negatively impact us all, since public health is safeguarded
when everyone is engaged.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic it is now more important than
ever for all nations to come together and share information regarding
public health.
I ask my colleagues to join me in voting for S. 812 because the U.S.
should support Taiwan's involvement with the international community on
all matters regarding public health.
These efforts will benefit global public health, and potentially save
many lives.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, S. 812.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. FULCHER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion
are postponed.
____________________