IV 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 154 
Expressing the sense of Congress that Taiwan should be accorded full and 
equal membership in the World Health Organization (WHO) and other 
international organizations. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 17, 2005 
Mr. BURTON of Indiana submitted the following concurrent resolution; which 
was referred to the Committee on International Relations 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of Congress that Taiwan should be 
accorded full and equal membership in the World Health 
Organization (WHO) and other international organiza-
tions. 
Whereas for the ninth year in a row, the assembly of the 
World Health Organization (WHO), meeting in Geneva, 
Switzerland, for its annual session in May 2005, has re-
jected Taiwan’s efforts to gain observer status as a 
‘‘health entity’’; 
Whereas the World Health Assembly has allowed observers to 
participate in the activities of the organization, including 
the Order of Malta, the Holy See, and even the Palestine 
Liberation Organization;
•HCON 154 IH 
Whereas Taiwan has in recent years repeatedly expressed its 
strong desire to join the World Health Organization and 
other international organizations; 
Whereas Taiwan was a founding member of the World 
Health Organization, but lost its seat in the United Na-
tions and its constituent agencies after the United Na-
tions voted in 1972 to recognize the People’s Republic of 
China; 
Whereas Taiwan’s 22.8 million people will benefit from Tai-
wan’s membership in the World Health Organization 
through engagement with the international community in 
common pursuit to raise the quality of public health and 
provide for the welfare of its citizens; 
Whereas Taiwan has demonstrated a strong commitment to 
improving the quality of life of its citizenry, has one of 
the highest life expectancy levels in Asia, and has mater-
nal and infant mortality rates comparable to those of 
Western countries; 
Whereas Taiwan has expressed a willingness to assist finan-
cially and technically in international aid and health ac-
tivities supported by the World Health Organization; 
Whereas the exclusion of Taiwan from the World Health Or-
ganization has cost Taiwanese lives during outbreaks of 
diseases, including the Severe Acute Respiratory Syn-
drome (SARS), which caused 73 deaths in 2003, and an 
enterovirus epidemic in 1998; 
Whereas Avian influenza (bird flu) reemerged in Asia in 2003 
and was reported in Cambodia, the People’s Republic of 
China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Pakistan, South Korea, 
Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam;
•HCON 154 IH 
Whereas SARS and Avian influenza outbreaks illustrate that 
disease knows no boundaries and emphasizes the impor-
tance of allowing all people access to the World Health 
Organization; and 
Whereas, as the pace of globalization quickens the spread of 
infectious diseases, it is critical that all people, including 
the people of Taiwan, be given the opportunity to partici-
pate in international health organizations such as the 
World Health Organization: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that— 
(1) Taiwan and its 22.8 million people deserve 
full and equal membership in the World Health Or-
ganization (WHO) and other international organiza-
tions; 
(2) the United States should take a leading role 
in condemning Taiwan’s exclusion from the World 
Health Assembly in 2005; and 
(3) the United States should take a leading role 
in gaining international support for Taiwan’s par-
ticipation and membership in the World Health Or-
ganization and other international organizations. 
Æ