IV

105TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 219

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

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FEBRUARY 12, 1998

Mr. BROWN of Ohio (for himself, Mr. SOLOMON, Mr. STUPAK, Mr. BILIRAKIS,

Ms. DEGETTE, Mr. STRICKLAND, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. WYNN, and Mr.

ROHRABACHER) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was

referred to the Committee on International Relations

CONCURRENT 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

international trade and travel;
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•HCON 219 IH

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 peoples;

Whereas, in 1977, the WHO 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, according to the charter of the WHO (Chapter III,

Article 3), ‘‘Membership in the Organization shall be

open to all States’’;

Whereas Taiwan is a nation state whose population of

21,000,000 people is larger than that of three-quarters of

the member states already in the WHO 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

WHO, 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, due to the unreasonable and unjustifiable political

pressure which the People’s Republic of China applies to

the international community, Taiwan is currently excluded from the WHO;
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•HCON 219 IH

Whereas Taiwan is thus not allowed to participate in all

WHO-organized forums and workshops regarding the latest techniques in the diagnosis, monitoring, and control

of diseases;

Whereas, in recent years, both the Taiwanese 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 due to the

political interference of the People’s Republic of China;

and

Whereas, in light of all of the above, the continuing denial

of Taiwan’s desire to join the WHO is an indefensible

violation of its people’s basic rights and demonstrates an

inexplicable disregard for the benefits that such membership could bring to the state of health not only in Taiwan, but also regionally and globally: Now, therefore, be

it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that—

3 (1) Taiwan and its 21,000,000 people should be

4 represented in the World Health Organization; and

5 (2) it should be United States policy to support

6 Taiwan’s representation in the World Health Orga7 nization forthwith.

Æ