With the SARS outbreak still growing in the Taibei area of northern Taiwan, the government as well as media here in Taiwan is increasingly questioning the lack of help given the island by the WHO. Taiwan is not a member or an observer of the World Health Organization, and as a result, only the CDC of Atlanta is assisting us here. The obstacle is Beijing. Sure, it is easily understandable why Beijing would oppose full membership, and in any case, as a non-state entity and not a member of the UN, Taiwan would be barred from full membership. However, entities like the International Red Cross and the Palestinian Authority have Associate Member status as does Malta (while a state, it is not a member of the UN). Why can't Taiwan become an associate member of the WHO. Sure, legally Taiwan is a part of China. However, is China violating its legal responsibility to the health of the 23 million people of Taiwan by blocking its right to participate in the WHO? The WHO says that eridicating SARS from the human population its top priority at the moment? Does the fact that they have no one in Taiwan (a place where the SARS outbreak is still getting worse - at least in the northern part of the island) indicate that so long as it only exists in Taiwan, it is okay? I have long held that Taiwan is legally a part of China due to historical and legal issues, however its moral case for sovereignty over the island is severly weakened by Beijing's constant obstruction of the legitimate health care concerns for the people of Taiwan. It is about time for Beijing to come around on this.
I am a proponent of Taiwan's independance, hence my "give them UN membership" vote. China is acting irresponsibly in this particular case.
Given the amount of money Taiwanese companies have invested in China; you'd figure that Taipei would get a little love from Beijing. If SARS gets too much further out of control, it would have to have an effect on Taiwanese economy and the amount of money that Taiwanese firms can invest in China. The only reason I can think of keeping Taiwan out of the UN is that the Taiwanese are baseball fans and don't like soccer much. But if we let Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic & Venezuela in; I guess we have to let Taiwan in.
The Chinese Communist government shows their true colors here. Taiwanese people will die because the fvcking bastards in Beijing won't let them into the WHO. This after they refused to do anything about the disease in their own country until it was too late, allowing it to spread across the globe. Taiwan should be in the UN but that shouldn't even be an issue here, the WHO should be a medical body not a political one, and every man, woman and child on Earth should be represented in it regardless of where they live.
PErsonally, I have been very disappointed with Beijing's attitude through this problem in Taiwan. They just announced that they would allow WHO scientists in Taiwan, but this is at least two weeks too late. Two weeks ago, this was contained in Taiwan. However, it is not now. Fortunately, we have had no superspreaders at this point, but there are isolate cases all over the island and to me it is just a matter of time before someplace outside of Taibei has a serious SARS outbreak. As for WHO membership, since Taiwan is NOT a UN member at this time, it is not eligible for full membership in the WHO (this is a provision in the WHO charter), however Associate membership would allow Taiwan to participate in WHO activities and be helped by the WHO when crises like this erupt without the permission of Beijing. As for UN membership for Taiwan, as Taiwan has never declared itself an independent state, it would be hard to justify UN membership for the island. However, the poll results are rather interesting (which is why I added it in as an option.)
People tended to forget. Officially, Taipei still considered itself to be part of China, except the real Chinese government is in taipei.
I would like to hear the rationale of the one person who said that Taiwan should be EXCLUDED from the WHO!
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/05/08/205107 This article in a local English language paper seems to reflect the attitudes of MANY people I talk to (many of whom don't - or didn't - have pro-independence proclivities). If Beijing wants to win the hearts and minds of the Taiwanese people, it is doing a lousy job.
Just a bit of political maneuvering from Beijing for cetain imbecile from Taiwan calling SARS a bio weapon made in China. Beijing have no problem with the current cross-strait relationship, as long as the cash keeps following, there's no need for a common recognition of power. However, a independent membership in a internation organization certainly is a step towards independence. Beijing don't real care about what ordinary Taiwanese people feel, Democracy in Taiwan means shit in the eyes of the Chinese government, as it should. Taiwan can proclaim independence a thousand times, it still wouldn't make them an independent country. Ludahai, do you actually believe everything you read in the newspapers? Are you enjoying the new Apple daily? The government of Taipai has claimed independence many many times. But the words don't hold much weight, as expected from a small democratic government in a capitalistic environment.
When? Not recently as far as I know. Chen Shui Bian may have danced closer to it than previous leaders, but I would disagree that the words don't hold much weight when China threatens to invade if Taiwan ever declares independence. Having said that, as Excape Goat says, half the people of Taiwan probably don't want to declare independence as they consider Taiwan part of China. It's a complicated issue which is easy for us Americans to mistakenly project our own history on Taiwan.
I like the TV ads for the Apple Daily more than the paper itself. I take everything I read in the newspaper with a healthy dose of sceptism, but when it co-incides with the opinions of dozens of people I know here (in terms of the mood toward Beijing), I tend to grant a little more credibility toward it. There has never been a formal declaration of independence for Taiwan. The island still calls itself the Republic of China and the constitution of the Republic of China is still in force. The government (executive branch) has tried to claim Taiwan's independence as a fait accompli, however, there is not majority support in the legislature for an actual declaration of independence. Be careful what you hear from A-Bian, it doesn't make it the official just because he says so. There is something called a legislature here as well.
BTW, what are the Taiwanese political parties' stances on Taiwanese sovereignty? I seem to recall that the Kuomintang is pro-unification with China, as they were the party that founded the ROC, while Chen-Shuibian's Minjindang is more or less pro-independence.
You got it about right. President Chen Shui-Bian's Minjindang (Democratic Progressive Party) is pro-independence and was elected on a pro-independence platform with (if memory serves) about 35-40 percent of the vote. The Guomindang (Nationalists) are not in favor of declaring independence, but are also not in favor of immediate re-unification. Their stance is basically wait for the Mainland to become more democratic, then we can talk. The People's First Party (which finished second in the last Presidential election) has about the same view. Former President Li Denghui's new party (I can't remember the name) favors immediate and unconditional independence, while the New Party (Xin Dang) favors immediate independence. The "Pan-Blue" coalition of the GMD and the PFP has a legislative majority and will likely win the presidency in next years elections should the coalition hold.
China still planning on blocking Taiwan's entry China is still planning on opposing Taiwan's entry as an observer in the WHO. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/05/14/205894 http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/edit/archives/2003/05/14/205927 China may have legal sovereign right to Taiwan, however it is not fulfilling its responsibilities to the people of Taiwan. The U.S. has not decided if it will speak in favor of Taiwan's application or not. If you are in the U.S. and favor Taiwan's admission as an associate member of the World Health Organization, give your Representatives a call. Thank you.
It looks like that dispute problems in other areas of relations between the ROC on Taiwan and the United States, the USA will overtly back Taiwan in its bid to gain observer status in the WHO next week. http://www.chinapost.com.tw/detail.asp?ID=37636&GRP=A Heck, even the French are not going to speak out against it like they (and the Spanish) did last year. Perhaps there IS hope for the Frogs. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/05/15/210619
Canada, Chile, and the Philippines express support http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/05/18/211035 It is encouraging that more and more countries are expressing support for Taiwan's bid to become an associate member of the WHO. Legislators in Canada, Chile, and neighboring The Philippines have expressed support in this weeks upcoming bid by Taiwan to gain observer status in the World Health Organization. I would still like to hear from the two people why Taiwan should be excluded. There is no logical reason I can think of to exclude the island, though that has never stopped the French I suppose. (Think they will dare speak against Taiwan again?) Below is an editorial from one of the English language dailies on the island. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/edit/archives/2003/05/18/211070
Well, later today the meetings that will determine Taiwan's future relationship with the WHO will begin. Republic of China Foreign Minister Eugene Chien makes the case for Taiwan's inclusion in the WHO in a local English Language Daily editorial entitled "Time to Lift Taiwan's Quarantine". http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/edit/archives/2003/05/19/211203
Taiwan turned down for the seventh time Judging from the reaction in the Chinese language media earlier today, there will be no joy in Taiwan over this latest snubbing. I have to wonder about Beijing. They don't like President Chen. Many Taiwanese also don't like President Chen. Chen was well on his way to losing next year's election. He was already unpopular, and his handling of the SARS crisis has made him even less popular. However, Beijing just handed him the biggest political weapon he still has in his arsenal, his pro-independence, anti-China stance. Beijing may have just handed Chen re-election next year and a referendum on independence soon after that.
As expected, many Taiwanese have been quite furious regarding being rejected again by the WHO, but even more so by what was said by their delegates when questioned by a Taiwanese reporter. New Health Minister Wu Yi told this reporter angrily "didn't you hear, you (Taiwan) have been rejected." A male counterpart (I didn't get his name) accompaning Minister Wu said to this same reporter that "Nobody cares about you (Taiwan)." These quotes have been all over Taiwanese TV the past couple of days. I am sure that they have not been aired in the Mainland nor has this been talked much in the ENglish language press. They also lied to the WHA about sending anti-SARS kits to Taiwan. They said that they have been caring for Taiwan during this SARS crisis. I suppose the countries that spoke against Taiwan, like Cuba, Libya, Sudan, and Pakistan believe that, but the FREE people's of the world certainly do not. For all of the progress that has been made in Mainland China the past 25 years, whenever it gets to Taiwan, they behave just like they did in the 1950s. It is most irrational and will certainly backfire against China. There is discussion of a referendum here in Taiwan regarding the WHO issue (continue seeking membership or not.) One can assume that the goal is to show the WHA that there is strong public support in Taiwan to join the organization as a separate entity from China. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2003/05/22/2003052087 http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/05/22/2003052120 http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/05/22/2003052121
The reporter asked if Mrs. Wu understands the need of 23 million people in Taiwan. Then she responded with cruel:"誰理你們(Who cares?)". An official accompanied with her then said:"早就給拒絕了!(We have already rejected it!)". I'd like to express how Taiwanese see the above comments: 1. In terms of 'pan-green' electors: WE MUST CONTINUE OUR ACTIVITIES AGAINST CHINA! 2. In terms of 'pan-blue' electors: Presently the ruling party dare not negotiate with them, without trusted relationships their words are reasonable, preventing DPP playing tricks. 3. I don't know if I can represent 23 million islanders at all, but both of view 1 or 2 don't have good insights into the dialogue. My point: To stop the authorities of Taiwan from getting a seat at United Nations, PRC has to put an obstacle in our way to WHO which is an organization affiliated to UN. Even though their behavior is unfair to people living in Taiwan, but without a little bit trust between the Taiwan straight I think the disgusting words are reasonable in politics. By the way, the video clip of this incident can be found if you google "WHO" with zhTW localization.