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Taiwan's WHO Bid

After the establishment of the World Health Organization in 1948, Taiwan participated as a full member for 24 years and made substantial contributions to the fulfillment of the organization's objectives. However, when the People's Republic of China was admitted into the UN in 1971, the ROC (Taiwan) was forced to leave. Since then, health officials and medical professionals in Taiwan have experienced great difficulties taking part in WHO forums and workshops concerning the latest technologies in the diagnosis, monitoring and control of disease. Taiwan's non-member status, due to complex and very rare international political factors, has made participation problematic. Nevertheless the welfare of Taiwan's people should override political interests.

In 1997, Taiwan initiated a campaign to participate in the WHO. However, due to objections from China, Taiwan is still excluded. With the development of rapid and convenient transportation systems, it is inevitable that diseases will spread across borders as people and commodities circulate freely.

Taiwan has been excluded from the official WHO international epidemic notification system. This is not only detrimental to the health of the 23 million people in Taiwan, but also represents a defect in global health and disease prevention system and puts people of other countries in potential danger.

Therefore, Taiwan has sought observer status in the WHA. Taiwan hopes to contact and cooperate with the WHO through this channel, so as to avoid political intervention. This would benefit Taiwan and all WHO members.

 

Although in its entire 57-year existence the People's Republic of China has never administered Taiwan, it claims to represent the island at the United Nations and other international organizations. Moreover, through its insistence on a “one-China principle,” it pressures other countries to support its position and exclude Taiwan's participation.

Taiwan's government meanwhile, has relinquished any claim to territories in China that it governed before the civil war. The government only wishes to care for the needs of the 23 million people of Taiwan, the same people who participate in the direct elections of its leaders.

This political issue has smoldered for decades and looks like it will run for some time to come. This is not the place to debate the pros and cons of each side's position. Mention of it is included here merely so that readers can understand the background to China's hostility toward and obstruction of Taiwan's bids to participate in the WHO.


Although Taiwan's WHO campaign has not yet succeeded, it has gradually gained momentum, and Taiwan's government participates in international meetings and activities whenever possible. Unfortunately, permission for such participation is decided on a case-by-case basis, and it is particularly difficult for Taiwan to appear at conferences where attendance is limited to member states, even if such meetings are only technical in nature. Furthermore, Taiwan has only limited access to follow-up information and implementation procedures.