WHO role for Taiwan will be a step closer under Ma
The US Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt visited China last week to engage in some timely health diplomacy. His agenda included discussions with Chinese counterparts about food and drug safety, infectious disease control, including HIV/Aids, avian influenza and the enterovirus outbreak, and public health preparations for the Olympics.
He also had the opportunity to express condolences and discuss support for Chinese health authorities dealing with the devastating earthquake in Sichuan . But, while these issues dominated the headlines, an important item is simmering on the back burner - Taiwan.
The World Health Assembly, the governing body of the World Health Organisation, yesterday began a scheduled six-day meeting. In what has become an annual ritual, Taiwan leverages one of its few remaining diplomatic allies, enticing them to propose it as a member or observer. For the past 11 years, Beijing has blocked the bid on the grounds that only sovereign states, which Taiwan is currently not, are eligible to participate in this UN agency.
This year, Taiwan's formal application has already been rejected. But with a new president scheduled to take office in Taiwan today, there is hope that Taiwan will have better luck next year.
Taiwan's Chen Shui-bian, in office for the past eight years, put ideology and 'Taiwan identity' ahead of public health interests, just as his mainland counterparts have. By insisting that the island apply under the name 'Taiwan', he was certain to raise the ire of Beijing, which stood firm on its 'one China' principles.
Taiwan's new president, Ma Ying-jeou, has indicated willingness to accommodate the mainland on future applications to the WHO, including proposing a name acceptable to Beijing, such as 'Chinese Taipei'.
There is clearly a strong public health argument to make for including Taiwan under the umbrella of the WHO. Mainland authorities recognise this and have agreed in principle to allow Taiwan a greater role, having signed a memorandum of understanding with the WHO in 2005 to allow 'meaningful participation' by Taiwanese medical experts in WHO-related events.
However, Taiwan's participation in the WHO has not met expectations on all sides, resulting in squabbling and a lack of meaningful progress. Despite promises to improve information exchange between the mainland, Taiwan and the WHO, Taiwan authorities complained that official notifications of the enterovirus outbreak that killed more than 20 children in Anhui province arrived six weeks after media coverage of cases began appearing in hospitals.
Taiwan's proximity and extensive commerce with the mainland inextricably link it to the mainland's public health condition. This was dramatically demonstrated during the 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, though other infectious diseases regularly cross the Taiwan Strait in complete disregard for political divisions.
The US and the international community clearly have an interest in supporting Taiwan's bid as an observer at the WHO, but that support should not come at the expense of mainland China's interests. Accommodating a pragmatic Taiwan and ensuring public health security in the region benefits all sides.
Beijing's acceptance of Taiwan's participation in the WHO has the added advantage of providing the island with a modicum of 'international space' which Mr Ma dearly needs to deliver to his constituents, enabling him to continue to carry out pragmatic policies.
For all these reasons, the US should support an accommodation between Beijing and Taipei on Taiwan's membership in the WHO under a mutually acceptable name, which will ultimately contribute to long-term regional health, wealth and security.
Drew Thompson is the director of China Studies and Starr Senior Fellow at The Nixon Centre in Washington
