Taiwan "President" Chen Shui-bian exaggerated his contribution in dealing with the health crisis on the island triggered by SARS or severe acute respiratory syndrome, in an article in last Friday's Washington Post.
Chen sought high-sounding excuses for why the island should join the World Health Organization as a member or observer.
He said that his government has acted in the best interests of the Taiwan people during the crisis and that Taiwan should not be denied WHO membership for a long time.
Chen's purpose is all too clear. By capitalizing on the rare opportunity provided by the outbreak of the rampant SARS virus in Taiwan, he wants to gain accession for the island to the global health body, whose membership is only open to sovereign countries, thus finally creating a de facto independent Taiwan in the international community.
Chen is not alone in seizing on the SARS epidemic on the island to realize a covert political conspiracy.
Earlier, Taiwan "Vice-President" Annette Lu misleadingly warned Taiwan investors that their advance into the mainland would bring foot-and-mouth disease and SARS back to the island.
In fact, since SARS first broke out in Taiwan, the mainland has shown the utmost concern about the health situation of its Taiwan compatriots.
As an earlier victim of SARS, the mainland has taken a series of effective measures and accumulated valuable knowledge in fighting the natural scourge.
To achieve a common victory over the epidemic with Taiwan as soon as possible, the mainland has been active in holding cross-Straits medical symposia. This will greatly benefit both sides' joint struggle against the virus.
The mainland also approved a WHO plan to dispatch experts to Taiwan to help the island better contain SARS.
Any unbiased person will recognize that Taiwan has received unimpeded access to material assistance and expertise from both the mainland and the WHO.
It would be in the best interests of Taiwan's people should the Taiwan authorities collaborate sincerely with the mainland and the WHO to win an earlier victory against SARS.
However, it seems that what Chen and his followers care more about is not the welfare of the Taiwan people but the political prospects of gaining independence of Taiwan.
(China Daily May 13, 2003)
