    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
    [May 29, 2003]
    [Page 556]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing Legislation Concerning Participation of Taiwan in
    the World Health Organization
    May 29, 2003

        Today I have signed into law S. 243, an Act concerning participation
    of Taiwan in the World Health Organization. The United States fully
    supports the overall goal of Taiwan's participation in the work of the
    World Health Organization, including observership. The United States has
    expressed publicly its firm support for Taiwan's observer status and
    will continue to do so. The executive branch shall, as is consistent
    with the President's constitutional authority to conduct the Nation's
    foreign affairs, construe the Act to be consistent with the ``one
    China'' policy of the United States, which remains unchanged. The
    executive branch also shall construe the reporting requirement in
    section 1(c) of the Act in a manner consistent with the President's
    constitutional authority to withhold information the disclosure of which
    could impair foreign relations, the national security, the deliberative
    processes of the Executive, or the performance of the Executive's
    constitutional duties. The Secretary of State will continue, of course,
    as a matter of comity to keep the Congress appropriately informed of the
    matters addressed by the reporting requirement.

                                                              George W. Bush

     The White House,

     May 29, 2003.

    Note: S. 243, approved May 29, was assigned Public Law No. 108-28.