Despite Being No. 2 for Health, Taiwan Is Blocked From WHO

UNITED NATIONS — As international criticism grows over a system that allows rogue countries to lead U.N. bodies, a country that has been excluded from all U.N. agencies, Taiwan, intends to escalate its fight for international recognition and push for membership in the World Health Organization.

As Iran, a terror-supporting country, prepares to present its vision on countering terrorism at a United Nations-backed symposium in Vienna, and Zimbabwe, whose dictator has left the country's economy in shambles, assumes the leadership of the U.N. body charged with promoting sustainable development Friday, Belarus, known for its denial of human rights, is about to assume a seat on the U.N. Human Rights Council.

By contrast, even though the Economist magazine recently rated Taiwan's health system as the world's second best, China has successfully blocked its attempts to gain observer status at the Geneva-based WHO. So after more than a decade of trying to attain second-tier status, without even mentioning his country's name, President Chen of Taiwan recently officially asked for a fullfledged WHO membership.

Taiwan has made huge strides, a former health minister of Taiwan, Shiing Jer Twu, told The New York Sun yesterday. From having a Third World-level health system only decades ago, it has become a world leader in health care. "We have the kind of experience that is more valuable for some countries" than that of America or Japan, he said.

Barring the country from cooperation with other countries on health matters is "not fair for Taiwan, and it's not fair for other countries," Mr. Twu, who has led his country's battle for recognition at the WHO, said.

Taiwan currently records negligent infection rates of HIV and avian flu, which are prevalent among its neighbors, he said, but noted that 10,000 Taiwanese travel daily to China and 30 million travelers passed through Taiwan last year.

International cooperation is needed to help prevent the spread of disease. During the SARS epidemic of 2002–03, Mr. Twu said, "I sent seven letters to Geneva, but got no help from the WHO. Finally, in 2003, they sent two experts."

China has successfully blocked every one of Taiwan's attempts to participate in a United Nations-backed organization, not just the WHO, which is currently led by Dr. Margaret Chan of China.

A Chinese diplomat yesterday wondered why, after being rejected as an observer, Taiwan would try to become a member. "If you can't walk, how can you expect to fly?" the diplomat, who requested anonymity, told the Sun.

Meanwhile, European diplomats admitted defeat yesterday in their attempt to block Zimbabwe's candidacy for chairman of the U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development. A system based on rotating regional preferences, which exists throughout the United Nations, has allowed Zimbabwe — which has recorded more consecutive years of negative economic growth than any other country — to become the leader of the commission. A General Assembly vote Friday will seal Zimbabwe's chairmanship, according to African diplomats.

Because of a similar organizational structure, Iran was one of a few countries invited to address a "symposium to discuss practical measures to implement United Nations global counterterrorism strategy" that will take place under U.N. auspices in Vienna on May 17.

Regional representation also allows some of the worst human rights violators to become members of the Human Rights Council, created last year.

The Geneva-based council, which has repeatedly condemned Israel and refrained from criticizing violations anywhere else, will soon vote in new members.

Because Western countries are poorly represented under the current protocols, they failed to block membership on the council of such human rights violators as Belarus.