III

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. RES. 26

Relating to Taiwan’s Participation in the World Health Organization.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

JANUARY 20, 1999

Mr. MURKOWSKI (for himself, Mr. TORRICELLI, Mr. HELMS, Mr. THOMAS,

Mr. MACK, and Mr. SMITH of Oregon), submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

RESOLUTION

Relating to Taiwan’s Participation in the World Health

Organization.

Whereas good health is a basic right for every citizen of the

world and access to the highest standards of health information and services is necessary to help guarantee this

right;

Whereas direct and unobstructed participation in international health cooperation forums and programs is

therefore crucial, especially with today’s greater potential

for the cross-border spread of various infectious diseases

such as AIDS and Hong Kong bird flu through increased

trade and travel;

Whereas the World Health Organization (WHO) set forth in

the first chapter of its charter the objective of attaining

the highest possible level of health for all people;
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SRES 26 IS

Whereas in 1977 the World Health Organization established

‘‘Health for all by the year 2000’’ as its overriding priority and reaffirmed that central vision with the initiation

of its ‘‘Health For All’’ renewal process in 1995;

Whereas Taiwan’s population of 21,000,000 people is larger

than that of 3⁄4 of the member states already in the

World Health Organization and shares the noble goals of

the organization;

Whereas Taiwan’s achievements in the field of health are

substantial, including one of the highest life expectancy

levels in Asia, maternal and infant mortality rates comparable to those of western countries, the eradication of

such infectious diseases as cholera, smallpox, and the

plague, the first Asian nation to be rid of polio, and the

first country in the world to provide children with free

hepatitis B vaccinations;

Whereas prior to 1972 and its loss of membership in the

World Health Organization, Taiwan sent specialists to

serve in other member countries on countless health

projects and its health experts held key positions in the

organization, all to the benefit of the entire Pacific region;

Whereas the World Health Organization was unable to assist

Taiwan with an outbreak of enterovirus 71 which killed

70 Taiwanese children and infected more than 1,100 Taiwanese children in 1998;

Whereas Taiwan is not allowed to participate in any WHOorganized forums and workshops concerning the latest

technologies in the diagnosis, monitoring, and control of

diseases;
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SRES 26 IS

Whereas in recent years both the Republic of China on Taiwan’s Government and individual Taiwanese experts have

expressed a willingness to assist financially or technically

in WHO-supported international aid and health activities,

but have ultimately been unable to render such assistance;

Whereas the World Health Organization allows observers to

participate in the activities of the organization;

Whereas the United States, in the 1994 Taiwan Policy Review, declared its intention to support Taiwan’s participation in appropriate international organizations; and

Whereas in light of all of the benefits that Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Organization could bring to

the state of health not only in Taiwan, but also regionally

and globally: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that—

2 (1) Taiwan and its 21,000,000 people should

3 have appropriate and meaningful participation in the

4 World Health Organization;

5 (2) the Secretary of State should report to the

6 Senate Foreign Relations Committee by April 1,

7 1999, on the efforts of the Secretary to fulfill the

8 commitment made in the 1994 Taiwan Policy Re9 view to more actively support Taiwan’s membership

10 in international organizations that accept non-states

11 as members, and to look for ways to have Taiwan’s

12 voice heard in international organizations; and
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1 (3) the Secretary of State shall report to the

2 Senate Foreign Relations Committee by April 1,

3 1999, on what action the United States will take at

4 the May 1999 World Health Organization meeting

5 in Geneva to support Taiwan’s meaningful participa6 tion.

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