| SRES 26 ATS 106th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 26
Relating to Taiwan's Participation in the World Health
Organization.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 20, 1999
Mr. MURKOWSKI (for himself, Mr. TORRICELLI, Mr. HELMS, Mr.
THOMAS, Mr. MACK, Mr. SMITH of Oregon, Mr. KYL, Mr. ROCKEFELLER, Mr. KERRY, Mr. LOTT, Mr.
BREAUX, Mr. CLELAND, Mr. ROTH, Mr. DEWINE, Mr. BENNETT, Mr. BROWNBACK, Mr. COVERDELL, Mr.
GRASSLEY, Mr. FEINGOLD, Mr. INHOFE, Mr. ASHCROFT, and Mr. ENZI) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
March 26, 1999
Reported under authority of the order of the Senate of
March 25, 1999, by Mr. HELMS, with amendments
[Omit the part struck through and insert
the part printed in italic]
April 12, 1999
Considered, amended, and agreed to
RESOLUTION
Relating to Taiwan's Participation in the World Health
Organization.
Whereas good health is a basic right for every citizen of
the world and access to the highest standards of health information and services is
necessary to help guarantee this right;
Whereas direct and unobstructed participation in
international health cooperation forums and programs is therefore crucial, especially with
today's greater potential for the cross-border spread of various infectious diseases such
as AIDS and Hong Kong bird flu through increased trade and travel;
Whereas the World Health Organization (WHO) set forth in
the first chapter of its charter the objective of attaining the highest possible level of
health for all people;
Whereas in 1977 the World Health Organization established
`Health for all by the year 2000' as its overriding priority and reaffirmed that central
vision with the initiation of its `Health For All' renewal process in 1995;
Whereas Taiwan's population of 21,000,000 people is larger
than that of 3/4 of the member states already in the World Health Organization and shares
the noble goals of the organization;
Whereas Taiwan's achievements in the field of health are
substantial, including one of the highest life expectancy levels in Asia, maternal and
infant mortality rates comparable to those of western countries, the eradication of such
infectious diseases as cholera, smallpox, and the plague, the first Asian nation to be rid
of polio, and the first country in the world to provide children with free hepatitis B
vaccinations;
Whereas prior to 1972 and its loss of membership in the
World Health Organization, Taiwan sent specialists to serve in other member countries on
countless health projects and its health experts held key positions in the organization,
all to the benefit of the entire Pacific region;
Whereas the World Health Organization was unable to assist
Taiwan with an outbreak of enterovirus 71 which killed 70 Taiwanese children and infected
more than 1,100 Taiwanese children in 1998;
Whereas Taiwan is not allowed to participate in any
WHO-organized forums and workshops concerning the latest technologies in the diagnosis,
monitoring, and control of diseases;
Whereas in recent years both the Republic of China on
Taiwan's Government and individual Taiwanese experts have expressed a willingness to
assist financially or technically in WHO-supported international aid and health
activities, but have ultimately been unable to render such assistance;
Whereas the World Health Organization allows observers to
participate in the activities of the organization;
Whereas the United States, in the 1994 Taiwan Policy
Review, declared its intention to support Taiwan's participation in appropriate
international organizations; and
Whereas in light of all of the benefits that Taiwan's
participation in the World Health Organization could bring to the state of health not only
in Taiwan, but also regionally and globally: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate
that--
(2) the Secretary of State should report to the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee by [Struck out->] April 1, 1999, [<-Struck out] April
20, 1999, on the efforts of the Secretary to fulfill the commitment made in the 1994
Taiwan Policy Review to more actively support Taiwan's membership in international
organizations that accept non-states as members, and to look for ways to have Taiwan's
voice heard in international organizations; and
(3) the Secretary of State shall report to the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee by [Struck out->] April 1, 1999, [<-Struck out] April
20, 1999, on what action the United States will take at the May 1999 World Health
Organization meeting in Geneva to support Taiwan's meaningful participation.
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