Concerning the participation of Taiwan in the World Health Organization (WHO).
PL 106-137 (H.R.1794), enacted 12/07/1999

PUBLIC LAW 106-137—DEC. 7, 1999 
113 STAT. 1691 
Public Law 106-137 
106th Congress 
An Act 
Concerning the participation of Taiwan in the World Health Organization (WHO). 
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 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. 
(2) Direct and unobstructed participation in international 
health cooperation forums and programs is therefore crucial, 
especially with todays greater potential for the cross-border 
spread of various infectious diseases such as AIDS. 
(3) 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 people. 
(4) In 1977, the World Health Organization established 
"Health For All By The Year 2000" as its overriding priority 
£ind reaffirmed that central vision with the initiation of its 
"Health For All" renewal process in 1995. 
(5) Taiwan's population of 21,000,000 people is larger than 
that of three-fourths of the member states already in the World 
Health Organization. 
(6) 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 be rid of polio and provide children with free hepatitis 
B vaccinations. 
(7) The World Health Organization was unable to assist 
Taiwan with an outbreak of enterovirus 71 which killed 70 
Taiwanese children and infected more than 1,100 Taiwanese 
children in 1998. 
(8) In recent years Taiwan has expressed a willingness 
to assist financially or technically in WHO-supported inter-
national aid and health activities, but has ultimately been 
unable to render such assistance. 
(9) The World Health Organization allows observers to 
participate in the activities of the organization. 
(10) The United States, in the 1994 Taiwan PoUcy Review, 
declared its intention to support Taiwan's participation in 
appropriate international organizations. 
Dec. 7, 1999 
[H.R. 1794] 
113 STAT. 1692 
PUBLIC LAW 106-137—DEC. 7, 1999 
(11) In light of all of the benefits that Taiwan's participation 
in the World Health Organization could bring to the state 
of health not only in Taiwan, but also regionally and globally, 
Taiwan and its 21,000,000 people should have appropriate and 
meaningful participation in the World Health Organization. 
Deadline. 
(b) REPORT,—Not later than January 1, 2000, the Secretary 
of State shall submit a report to the Congress on the efforts of 
the Secretary to fulfill the commitment made in the 1994 Taiwan 
Policy Review to more actively support Taiwan's participation in 
international 
organizations, in particular the World 
Health 
Organization (WHO). 
Approved December 7, 1999. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 1794: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 145 (1999): 
Oct. 4, considered and passed House. 
Nov. 19, considered and passed Senate.