Abstract
Since 1997, Taiwan’s attempt to participate in the World Health Assembly (WHA) has been unsuccessful because of Beijing’s obstruction. On April 28, 2009, Taiwan’s health minister, Yeh Ching-chuan, received a formal invitation from Margaret Chan, the director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), to attend the 62nd WHA in Geneva as an observer under the name of “Chinese Taipei.” The issuance of the invitation was widely seen as the result of improving relations across the Taiwan Strait since President Ma Ying-jeou took office in May 2008. That outcome, however, had much deeper roots that also involved other countries, principally the United States, as well as interactions between China and previous Taiwan governments. This study examines the background of Taiwan’s inclusion as an observer in the annual WHA, reviews the “facilitator” role of the United States, discusses support from other countries, and finally considers the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC’s) posture concerning Taiwan’s participation in the WHO.
This article was first published in the American Foreign Policy Interests, Vol. 32, No. 3 (May-June 2010), pp. 131–46. Reprinted with permission.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Notes
World Health Organization, Constitution of the World Health Organization. (Geneva: WHO, 2005), pp. 123, 127, 134.
World Health Organization, “Summary Records of Meetings of Committees,” General Committee First Meeting (May 19, 2003), p. 4
World Health Organization, “Summary Records of Meetings of Committees,” General Committee First Meeting (May 19, 2003), p. 4.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (ROC), “MOFA of ROC Calls on PRC to take substantive steps to assist Taiwan to participate in the WHO on an equal footing, instead of using hypocritical language to deceive the international community,” Press Release (April 20, 2005).
Mo Yan-chih, “Ma affirms diplomatic efforts,” Taipei Times (March 21, 2009), p. 3.
David Young, “Ma Will Consider Meeting with Wen if ECFA Is Signed.” The China Post (March 21, 2009).
China Post News Staff, “Taiwan Gains WHA Observer Status,” The China Post (April 30, 2009), p. A3.
Department of Health (Executive Yuan), “Participation in The World Health Assembly, Advancing the State of Global Health,” DOH news (May 21, 2009).
Winston Lord, “Taiwan Policy Review—Statement Made before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, September 27, 1994.” In U.S. Department of State Dispatch, Vol. 5, No. 42 (October 27, 1994), pp. 705–06.
Charles Snyder, “Powell Supports Taiwan’s Presence in WHO,” Taipei Times, March 9, 2001, p. 1.
Colin L. Powell, “Remarks at Asia Society Annual Dinner,” June 10, 2002.
Legislative Yuan (ROC), Gazette of Legislative Yuan, 91: 28 (May 4, 2002), p. 401.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (ROC), “Taiwan welcomes the SARS resolution passed by WHA, and expressed gratitude to the relevant countries for their assistance.” Press Release (May 29, 2003).
Legislative Yuan, Gazette of Legislative Yuan, Vol. 92, No. 36 (May 29, 2003), p. 4.
U.S. Department of State, “Overview of U.S. Policy toward Taiwan” (April 21, 2004).
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The ROC Foreign Policy Yearbook 2004, Chapter 2. Retrieved November 30, 2008, from http://multilingual.mofa.gov.tw/web/web_UTF-8/almanac/almanac2004/07/07_01.htm.
Legislative Yuan, Gazette of Legislative Yuan, 92: 36 (May 29, 2003), pp. 5–6.
Legislative Yuan, Gazette of Legislative Yuan, 96: 50 (May 30, 2007), p. 166.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (ROC), The ROC Foreign Policy Yearbook 2005, Chapter 3. Retrieved November 30, 2008, from http://multilingual.mofa.gov.tw/web/web_UTF8/almanac/almanac2005/WebPages/MICO/08/08_02.htm.
Legislative Yuan, Gazette of Legislative Yuan, 96: 50 (May 30, 2007), p. 166.
Rachel Chan, “Taiwan thanks EU for backing its bid to join World Health Assembly,” The China Post (May 11, 2009).
World Health Organization, “Summary Records of Meetings of Committees,” General Committee First Meeting (May 19, 2003), p. 3.
Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council (PRC), “Message to Compatriots in Taiwan,” Headlines (January 1, 2009). Retrieved Jan. 1, 2009, from http://www.gwytb.gov.cn:8088/detail.asp?table=headlines&title=Headlines& m_id=973.
Taiwan Affairs Office ofthe State Council (PRC), “Chinese Mainland to seize opportunity to promote cross-straits peaceful development,” Headlines (Jan. 1, 2009). Retrieved January 1, 2009, from http://www.gwytb.gov.cn:8088/de-tail.asp?table=headlines&title=Headlines&m_id=975.
Jenny Hsu, “Taipei gets direct link to WHO unit,” Taipei Times (January 23, 2009), p. 1.
Ellen Ko, “Island to join health alert system,” Taiwan Journal, 26: 11 (February 6, 2009).
Y. C. Jou, “WHO welcomes Taiwan’s participation in World Health Assembly,” Central News Agency (May 2, 2009).
Arthur Lall, Modern International Negotiation (New York: Columbia University Press, 1966)
William M. Habeeb, Power and Tactics in International Negotiation (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1988), p. 4.
Office of the President, Republic of China, “President Ma Holds Press Conference and Delivers Statement on Invitation to Taiwan by WHA,” News Releases (April 30, 2009).
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 2011 Cheng-yi Lin and Denny Roy
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Chang, Jl.J. (2011). Taiwan’s Participation in the World Health Organization: The U.S. “Facilitator” Role. In: Lin, Cy., Roy, D. (eds) The Future of United States, China, and Taiwan Relations. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230118966_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230118966_9
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, New York
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-29471-8
Online ISBN: 978-0-230-11896-6
eBook Packages: Palgrave Political & Intern. Studies CollectionPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)