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EU supports Taiwan’s participation in WHO

By - 14 May, 2011, 11:33 am

Taipei, May 11 (CNA) The European Parliament reiterated its support for Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Organization WHO) Wednesday, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

MOFA spokesman James Chang said that the European Parliament statement should serve as the basis that members of the EU welcome Taiwan’s attendance at the 64th session of the World Health Assembly (WHA), which will be held in Geneva from May 16 to 24.

The Taiwan mention was part of a lengthy resolution passed by the European Parliament to list out a common set of foreign and security policies. The resolution stated that the parliament supports “Taiwan’s meaningful participation as an observer in relevant international organizations and activities, such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) , the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).”

The parliament’s support comes amid controversy over a letter issued by WHO Secretary-General Margaret Chan last September, asking its recipients to refer to Taiwan as “the Taiwan Province of China”.

The letter was disclosed by an opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator who urged the Taiwan delegation to walk out on WHA as a protest against such a denigration of nationality.

Earlier Wednesday, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Shen Ssu-tsun said that Taiwan had already lodged a formal protest with the WHO through its representative office in Geneva over the “province of China” reference.

(By Nancy Liu)
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