China strongly opposes the United States' support for Taiwan's
"participation" in the
World Health Organization
(WHO), and has strenuously denounced the action to the US
Government, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said
yesterday.
Zhang addressed the issue in response to a question about a bill
passed by the US Congress supporting Taiwan's bid to be an
"observer" in the WHO. US President George W. Bush has signed the
resolution.
Zhang said the WHO is a United Nations' organization whose
membership is open only to sovereign states. Taiwan, which is part
of China, is therefore not qualified to participate.
The Chinese Government is concerned about the health and social
welfare of Taiwan compatriots and plays an active role in promoting
health exchanges and co-operation across the Straits. Residents in
Taiwan also have large accessibility to health information, said
Zhang.
The aim behind Taiwan's participation in the WHO is to create "two
Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan" she added.
The US support of Taiwan's "participation" in the WHO goes against
the American commitment to the one-China policy and the principles
of the three Sino-US joint communiquis.
China demanded the United States stop its connivance and support of
Taiwan's attempts to separate China, to avoid harming Sino-US
relations, Zhang said.
(Xinhua News
Agency April 9, 2002)