"Question of Taiwan", Plenary of the 58th World Health Assembly, Statement by Ambassador Masood Khan, Geneva, 16 May 2005
Madam President,
We congratulate you on your assumption of the Office of the President of 58th World Health Assembly. Pakistan looks forward to working under your able leadership.
My delegation has already delivered a detailed statement in the General Committee stating its position on the request of the Taiwanese authorities to be admitted to this session of the World Health Assembly as observer. This question should have been settled in the General Committee rather than brought once again to the plenary of the Assembly. This only diverts our attention from the more pressing issues at hand. Pakistan strongly believes in One-China policy and regards Taiwan as an indivisible part and a province of the mainland. We hope that it would return to the mainland soon.
We regret that extremely precious time of this Assembly is being taken up by a non-issue rather than health-related issues.
For the eighth consecutive year, the World Health Assembly has been asked to debate an issue which has no relevance to this organization and which was decided over thirty years ago not only by the World Health Organization itself but also by the United Nations General Assembly. For the eighth consecutive years, this proposition will be rejected by this august Assembly. Should this issue then ever be brought to this House again? The answer is No. Why?
Because the proposal to invite Taiwan at the present session of the World Health Assembly as an observer is deficient in law and practice as well as inconsistent with the established principles of inter-state relations. It also violates the United Nations Charter.
Madam President,
My delegation fully supported the four-point proposal presented by China to the 57th World Health Assembly suggesting ways and means to address the Taiwanese concerns for establishing contacts with the World Health Organization. We commend Chinese Government’s readiness and efforts to engage Taiwan, to explore ways to associate Taiwanese professionals with the WHO, and to help facilitate technical exchanges between Taiwan and the WHO. In this regard, we welcome the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Chinese Government and the WHO Secretariat to facilitate technical exchanges between Taiwan and WHO. This should bring the issue to a closure in purely substantive term.
Coming to the substance of the Taiwanese request, we would say that the proposal should be rejected because it violates (a) UNGA and WHO decisions; (b) WHO Constitution; and (c) international law. I will explain how:
· First, the issue of Taiwan’s representation at the United Nations had been conclusively settled by the United Nations over thirty years ago. UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 (XXVI) of 25 October 1971 had decided to restore all rights to the People’s Republic of China and to recognize the representative of the Chinese government as the sole legitimate representation of China to the United Nations. This decision was endorsed by the World Health Assembly resolution No. 25.1 in 1972
· Second, though the WHO Constitution allows territories or groups of territories not responsible for conduct of their international relations to become associate members, Article 8 of the Constitution clearly stipulates that these territories may be admitted as Associate members by the Health Assembly upon application, on behalf of such a territory or group of territories, by the member or other authority having responsibility for their international relations. It is evident that this consent is not forthcoming. Thus, the proposal to invite Taiwan as observer to this Assembly is in contravention of the WHO Constitution.
· Third, state sovereignty and territorial integrity are fundamental principles of international law and a cornerstone of the UN Charter. Taiwan is a province and an integral part of China. The Government of the People’s Republic of China has the sole responsibility of representing all its provinces and territorial units in the international forums. Extending an invitation to Taiwan or its health authorities as observer in the meetings of the world Health Organization, which is a specialized UN agency, would be a direct violation of international law as well as the UN Charter.
Madam President,
My delegation believes that any proposal aimed at “inviting the Taiwanese health authorities as observer at the World Health Assembly” is legally unacceptable and politically untenable. It only distracts us from the pressing issues at hand.
We would, therefore, recommend to the Assembly to reject this proposal clearly, decisively and definitively.
I thank you, Madam President.