Taiwan -- "Observers" at World Health Organization Meeting

Each of the 192 nation states discussed in class on Saturday are members of the World Health Organization currently participating in the World Health Assembly meeting in Geneva this week. For the first time in 38 years, Taiwan is also participating in the meeting "as an observer" under the name “Chinese Taipei”.

http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSLI62888
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-05/19/content_7788983.htm

At present, the United Nations does not recognize Taiwan as an independent state.

However, where sentiments about “one-China” (according to the People’s Republic of China or “mainland China”) or “two separate and sovereign Chinese governments” (according to the Republic of China, “Taiwan”) were once very strong, each side has softened its stance (as long as issues of “state” are not discussed).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_status_of_Taiwan

This is partly a result of revised policies “to ease tensions across the Taiwan straits” by the Kuomintang Party or “Nationalist Party of China” after winning the election in 2008. In order to “keep the peace”, this party endorses the “three noes" policy – “no unification, no independence and no use of force”.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuomintang

There are times when political tensions must be put aside in response to a threat to civilian life. According to Wu Nengyuan, director of the Institute of Taiwan Studies, “the two-sides can find proper ways to attend events which involve issues concerning people’s livelihood”.

Not being a part of the WHO meetings during the Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic in 2003 proved very difficult for Taiwan (where 60 people died).

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5220a1.htm#tab

Whether any SARS deaths could have been prevented as a result of attending the WHO meetings is unknown. However, being a participant in this week’s meeting (as the H1N1 virus pandemic is being addressed) is certainly a step in the right direction.

Joann L.