Concerning the participation of Taiwan in the World Health Organization.
PL 107-10 (H.R.428), enacted 05/28/2001

PUBLIC LAW 107-10—MAY 28, 2001 
115 STAT. 17 
Public Law 107-10 
107th Congress 
An Act 
Concerning the 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 larger than 
that of % 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 flrefighting, medi-
cine, and civil engineering. The Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs also donated $200,000 in relief aid to the Salvadoran 
Government. 
(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 1950's. 
May 28, 2001 
[H.R. 428] 
115 STAT. 18 
PUBLIC LAW 107-10—MAY 28, 2001 
(9) The United States, in the 1994 Taiwan PoHcy 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. 
(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 sinnual week-long summit 
of the World Health Assembly in May 2001 in Geneva, Switzer-
land; and 
(2) to instruct the United States delegation to Geneva 
to implement that plan. 
Deadline. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 14 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit a written 
report to the Congress in unclassified form containing the plan 
authorized under subsection (b). 
Approved May 28, 2001. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 428: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 147 (2001): 
Apr. 24, considered and passed House. 
May 9, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
May 15, House concurred in Senate amendment.