Taiwan gains WHA observer status

KMT Legislator John Chiang, a former foreign minister, said the WHA status would pave the way for Taiwan's similar status in other major organizations like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Taiwan has not been represented in the United Nations since 1971, when the Republic of China's seat was given to the People's Republic of China.

It has tried unsuccessfully to have the United Nations consider the issue of its representation since 1993, mainly due to objection from Beijing.

Taiwan made a high-profile but failed push for full membership under the name "Taiwan," coordinated by the previous administration of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in 2007.

But the new government led by the ruling KMT revised tactics and started promoting a bid in 2008 to "participate meaningfully in the activities of the U.N. specialized agencies," in line with President Ma's "modus vivendi" diplomatic strategy that favors a moderate, pragmatic and viable approach.

Ma first disclosed in March that representatives of Taiwan and China would meet overseas in April to discuss issues concerning Taiwan's participation in the WHA.

As to the membership name preferred by the government in joining international organizations, Ma said the country's official name of "the Republic of China" remains the government's top choice.

Coming in second would be "Taiwan," followed by "Chinese Taipei" -- the name used by Taiwan when competing in the Olympic Games and many other international events, he said.

No Hidden Agenda

Vice Foreign Minister Andrew Hsia said that there is no hidden agenda or conditions in discussions between Taiwan and China on Taipei's participation as an observer in the upcoming WHA.

"I can say with conviction that there is no secret arrangement or hidden agenda regarding Taiwan's participation in the WHA," Hsia said in a meeting with the local press.

However, he declined to divulge details of the cross-Taiwan Strait discussions on the issue, saying only that "health officials of both sides of the Strait have exchanged pragmatic views on related issues."

Asked about Taiwan's next step, Hsia said Taiwan will participate in all meetings of the WHA and try its best to make contributions.

"It has not been an easy path for us to come to this point, and we have to prove that we are a worthy participant," he said.

Japan's Pleased

Japan is pleased to see that Taiwan has been invited to participate as an observer in this year's WHA, as Tokyo has long been a supporter of Taiwan's involvement in international affairs, Naohiro Tsutsumi, director-general of the Interchange Association Taipei Office said.

"Japan welcomes and is pleased to see such a result. We also expect to cooperate with Taiwan on public health issues in the World Health Organization's technical activities," Tsutsumi told the Central News Agency.

The Interchange Association serves as the de facto Japanese embassy in Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic relations between Taipei and Tokyo.

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