[117th Congress Public Law 124]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 1201]]
[[Page 136 STAT. 1202]]
Public Law 117-124
117th Congress
An Act
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. <<NOTE: May 13, 2022 - [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
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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) <<NOTE: Applicability. 22 USC 290 note.>> 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
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Organization'' (Public Law 108-235; 22 U.S.C. 290 note) that is
submitted after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Approved May 13, 2022.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 812:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
Vol. 167 (2021):
Aug. 6, considered and passed
Senate.
Vol. 168 (2022):
Apr. 27, considered and passed
House.
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