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Taiwan still focused on controversy over name at WHO

ROC Central News Agency

2012/04/10 13:37:20

Taipei, April 10 (CNA) Taiwan is keeping pressure on the World Health Organization (WHO) over a leaked memo that asked WHO agencies to refer to Taiwan as a province of China, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday, a year after the document was made public by a local lawmaker.

"We have been negotiating with the WHO over the past year," said Lily Hsu, head of the ministry's Department of International Organizations, at a press briefing.

"Although there has been no official response from the WHO so far, we will continue to work on it," she said, in response to a reporter's question.

The ministry has also expressed dissatisfaction with the WHO's denigration of Taiwan through other major countries such as the United States, Hsu said.

Last year, an opposition Democratic Progressive Party legislator revealed to the media an internal WHO letter that urged organization officials to use "Taiwan, Province of China" when referring to Taiwan in WHO publications.

Asked whether Taiwan will lodge a protest with relevant authorities at the World Health Assembly (WHA) next month, Hsu said "appropriate statements will be made depending on how circumstances develop."

Last year, Health Minister Chiu Wen-ta delivered a letter of protest while attending the annual meeting of the WHA, the highest decision-making body of the WHO.

Addressed to WHO Director-General Margaret Chan, the strongly worded letter said the error was "absolutely unacceptable" and requested the international body to "immediately look into this grave matter and redress such a mistake."

Taiwan has attended the WHA as an observer under the name "Chinese Taipei" since 2009.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) announced last week that Chiu will lead a delegation to the annual WHA conference in Geneva May 21-26.

"Chiu will share with other members the experience of Taiwan's health insurance system, have professional exchanges on medical and health issues, and solicit support for Taiwan to continue to attend activities under the World Health Organization," the statement said.

(By Nancy Liu)
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