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 infor-
mation and services is necessary to help guarantee this
right;
Whereas direct and unobstructed participation in inter-
national 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;
•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 com-
parable 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 ex-
perts 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 ex-
cluded from the WHO;
•HCON 219 IH
Whereas Taiwan is thus not allowed to participate in all
WHO-organized forums and workshops regarding the lat-
est techniques in the diagnosis, monitoring, and control
of diseases;
Whereas, in recent years, both the Taiwanese government
and individual Taiwanese experts have expressed a will-
ingness to assist financially or technically in WHO-sup-
ported international aid and health activities, but have ul-
timately 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 member-
ship could bring to the state of health not only in Tai-
wan, but also regionally and globally: 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 21,000,000 people should be
represented in the World Health Organization; and
(2) it should be United States policy to support
Taiwan’s representation in the World Health Orga-
nization forthwith.
Æ