A bill to address the participation of Taiwan in the World Health Organization.
PL 108-235 (S.2092), enacted 06/14/2004

118 STAT. 656
PUBLIC LAW 108–235—JUNE 14, 2004
Public Law 108–235
108th Congress
An Act
To address 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.
(a) FINDINGS.—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 today with the great 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 3⁄4 of the member states already in the World
Health Organization (WHO).
(4) Taiwan’s achievements in the field of health are
substantial, including—
(A) attaining—
(i) 1 of the highest life expectancy levels in Asia;
and
(ii) maternal and infant mortality rates comparable
to those of western countries;
(B) eradicating such infectious diseases as cholera,
smallpox, the plague, and polio; and
(C) providing children with hepatitis B vaccinations.
(5) The United States Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and its counterpart agencies in Taiwan 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.
(8) The World Health Assembly has allowed observers to
participate in the activities of the organization, including the
22 USC 290 note.
June 14, 2004
[S. 2092]
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118 STAT. 657
PUBLIC LAW 108–235—JUNE 14, 2004
Palestine Liberation Organization in 1974, the Order of Malta,
and the Holy See in the early 1950’s.
(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 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 a 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 the 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.
(15) In 2003, the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome (SARS) caused 84 deaths in Taiwan.
(16) Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, has
reemerged in Asia, with strains of the influenza reported by
the People’s Republic of China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan,
Pakistan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos.
(17) The SARS and avian influenza outbreaks illustrate
that disease knows no boundaries and emphasize the impor-
tance of allowing all people access to the WHO.
(18) As the pace of globalization quickens and the spread
of infectious disease accelerates, it is crucial that all people,
including the people of Taiwan, be given the opportunity to
participate in international health organizations such as the
WHO.
(19) The Secretary of Health and Human Services acknowl-
edged during the 2003 World Health Assembly meeting that
‘‘[t]he need for effective public health exists among all peoples’’.
(b) PLAN.—The Secretary of State is authorized to—
(1) initiate a United States plan to endorse and obtain
observer status for Taiwan at the annual week-long summit
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118 STAT. 658
PUBLIC LAW 108–235—JUNE 14, 2004
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 2092 (H.R. 4019):
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 150 (2004):
May 6, considered and passed Senate.
May 20, considered and passed House.
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 40 (2004):
June 14, Presidential statement.
of the World Health Assembly each year in Geneva, Switzer-
land;
(2) instruct the United States delegation to the World
Health Assembly in Geneva to implement that plan; and
(3) introduce a resolution in support of observer status
for Taiwan at the summit of the World Health Assembly.
(c) REPORT CONCERNING OBSERVER STATUS
FOR TAIWAN
AT
THE SUMMIT OF THE WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY.—Not later than
30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and not
later than April 1 of each year thereafter, the Secretary of State
shall submit a report to the Congress, in unclassified form,
describing the United States plan to endorse and obtain observer
status for Taiwan at the annual week-long summit of the World
Health Assembly (WHA) held by the World Health Organization
(WHO) in May of each year in Geneva, Switzerland. Each report
shall include the following:
(1) An account of the efforts the Secretary of State has
made, following the last meeting of the World Health Assembly,
to encourage WHO member states to promote Taiwan’s bid
to obtain observer status.
(2) The steps the Secretary of State will take to endorse
and obtain observer status at the next annual meeting of the
World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.
Approved June 14, 2004.
Deadline.
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