A bill concerning participation of Taiwan in the World Health Organization.
PL 108-28 (S.243), enacted 05/29/2003

117 STAT. 769
PUBLIC LAW 108–28—MAY 29, 2003
Public Law 108–28
108th Congress
An Act
Concerning participation of Taiwan in the World Health Organization.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. CONCERNING THE PARTICIPATION OF TAIWAN IN THE
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO).
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Good health is important to every citizen of the world
and access to the highest standards of health information and
services is necessary to improve the public health.
(2) Direct and unobstructed participation in international
health cooperation forums and programs is beneficial for all
parts of the world, especially with today’s greater potential
for the cross-border spread of various infectious diseases such
as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), tuberculosis, and
malaria.
(3) Taiwan’s population of 23,500,000 people is greater
than that of three-fourths of the member states already in
the World Health Organization (WHO).
(4) 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, and the first
to eradicate polio and provide children with hepatitis B vaccina-
tions.
(5) The United States Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and its Taiwan counterpart agencies have enjoyed
close collaboration on a wide range of public health issues.
(6) In recent years Taiwan has expressed a willingness
to assist financially and technically in international aid and
health activities supported by the WHO.
(7) On January 14, 2001, an earthquake, registering
between 7.6 and 7.9 on the Richter scale, struck El Salvador.
In response, the Taiwanese Government sent 2 rescue teams,
consisting of 90 individuals specializing in firefighting, medi-
cine, and civil engineering. The Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign
Affairs also donated $200,000 in relief aid to the Salvadoran
Government.
May 29, 2003
[S. 243]
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117 STAT. 770
PUBLIC LAW 108–28—MAY 29, 2003
(8) The World Health Assembly has allowed observers to
participate in the activities of the organization, including the
Palestine Liberation Organization in 1974, the Order of Malta,
and the Holy See in the early 1950s.
(9) The United States, in the 1994 Taiwan Policy Review,
declared its intention to support Taiwan’s participation in
appropriate international organizations.
(10) Public Law 106–137 required the Secretary of State
to submit a report to the Congress on efforts by the executive
branch to support Taiwan’s participation in international
organizations, in particular the WHO.
(11) In light of all benefits that Taiwan’s participation
in the WHO can bring to the state of health not only in
Taiwan, but also regionally and globally, Taiwan and its
23,500,000 people should have appropriate and meaningful
participation in the WHO.
(12) On May 11, 2001, President Bush stated in his letter
to Senator Murkowski that the United States ‘‘should find
opportunities for Taiwan’s voice to be heard in international
organizations in order to make a contribution, even if member-
ship is not possible’’, further stating that his Administration
‘‘has focused on finding concrete ways for Taiwan to benefit
and contribute to the WHO’’.
(13) In his speech made in the World Medical Association
on May 14, 2002, Secretary of Health and Human Services
Tommy Thompson announced ‘‘America’s work for a healthy
world cuts across political lines. That is why my government
supports Taiwan’s efforts to gain observership status at the
World Health Assembly. We know this is a controversial issue,
but we do not shrink from taking a public stance on it. The
people of Taiwan deserve the same level of public health as
citizens of every nation on earth, and we support them in
their efforts to achieve it’’.
(14) The Government of the Republic of China on Taiwan,
in response to an appeal from the United Nations and the
United States for resources to control the spread of HIV/AIDS,
donated $1,000,000 to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuber-
culosis and Malaria in December 2002.
(b) PLAN.—The Secretary of State is authorized—
(1) to initiate a United States plan to endorse and obtain
observer status for Taiwan at the annual week-long summit
of the World Health Assembly in May 2003 in Geneva, Switzer-
land; and
(2) to instruct the United States delegation to Geneva
to implement that plan.
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117 STAT. 771
PUBLIC LAW 108–28—MAY 29, 2003
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 243 (H.R. 441):
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 149 (2003):
May 1, considered and passed Senate.
May 14, considered and passed House.
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 39 (2003):
May 29, Presidential statement.
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 14 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit a report
to Congress in unclassified form describing the action taken under
subsection (b).
Approved May 29, 2003.
Deadline.
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