FAPA Europe calls on EU to support Taiwan's WHO Bid

For immediate release

Tuesday, May 8, 2007, Mainz, Germany - The Formosan Association for Public Affairs Europe (FAPA Europe) called on the European Union to fully support Taiwan's WHO membership application at the World Health Assembly in Geneva next week. Taiwan, a democratic nation of 23 million people that is not represented at the WHO, will be making its eleventh attempt to enter this international health body.

"The continued exclusion of Taiwan from the WHO poses a grave health risk for citizens all over the world," said Jenny Hsieh, spokesperson for FAPA Europe. "It is unacceptable that the 23 million citizens of Taiwan are refused access to crucial WHO resources. If policy makers at the World Health Assembly are serious about combating the spread of epidemic diseases, they must admit Taiwan to the WHO without delay."

Though Taiwan has made continuous attempts to join the WHO, its application is blocked due to objections from China. The exclusion of Taiwan prevents its officials from directly sharing information about epidemics and viruses, which prevented Taiwan from coordinating disease prevention strategies with the WHO during the SARS epidemic of 2003.

"This is a question of fundamental human rights," added Hsieh. "The universal right to health of 23 million Taiwanese citizens trumps any political objection that China may have."

Taiwanese officials have stated their willingness to contribute to the international effort on disease prevention and health care. With a sophisticated medical profession, consistent contributions to AIDS prevention, and aid to tsunami victims, Taiwan has shown that it can be a valuable contributor to world health.

"Why should policy makers listen to Chinese objections anyway?" asked Alison Hsieh, senior researcher for FAPA Europe. "China has no credibility with the WHO, as it covered up its own SARS outbreak, causing the rapid epidemic spread of SARS to other nations."

###

About FAPA Europe:
FAPA Europe is a European organization that promotes European-Taiwan relations and supports the sovereign right of Taiwan to self-determination.

For more details contact:
Jenny Hsieh, Spokesperson
Formosan Association for Public Affairs Europe
Mombacherstrasse 43
55122 Mainz
Germany
Email: info@fapaeu.org
Website: www.fapaeu.org