China's central government has always been
concerned about the well-being and health of Taiwan compatriots and has actively
promoted co-operation in the medical and health field across the Taiwan Straits.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao made the remarks early
Tuesday after the 57th World Health Assembly (WHA) turned down a motion Monday
to include in its agenda a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate in the WHA
as an observer. The motion was put forth by the Solomon Islands and a few other
countries.
It was the eighth successive rejection by the WHA -- which is currently
meeting in Geneva -- to such proposals since 1997, Liu noted.
Head of the Chinese delegation to the assembly, vice minister of health Gao
Qiang, said there are no difficulties in technical exchanges between Taiwan and
the mainland and between Taiwan and WHO.
"Health workers in the mainland have long been in close contact with their
colleagues in Taiwan. There has been extensive co-operation between the mainland
and Taiwan in the areas of medicine, health, medical education and hospital
management," Gao said.
At the same time, Taiwan medical professionals are welcomed to join the
Chinese delegation at the WHA, he added.
Liu said that the WHO is a specialized agency of the United Nations and only
sovereign states may join it. According to WHO and WHA rules and regulations,
Taiwan, as part of China, is not eligible to participate in the WHO or attend
the WHA as an observer.
Also at Tuesday's regular briefing, Liu said that the Chinese Government
opposes a US move to send a delegation to the inauguration of Taiwan leader Chen
Shui-bian on May 20.
The American Institute in Taiwan announced recently that a delegation, headed
by Jim Leach, chairman of the Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs of
US House of Representative's Committee on International Relations, will attend
the inauguration.
Liu said that the move sends a wrong message to the Taiwan side and does not
help stability across the Taiwan Straits.
In another development, Liu reiterated that China has inarguable sovereignty
over the Nansha islands and the sea areas around the islands.
It was reported that Viet Nam has been building an airport on one of the
Nansha islands and the construction project is to be completed by the end of
this year.
Liu said such a move infringes on China's territorial sovereignty and is
illegal.
The move will lead to further complication of the situation in the South
China Sea, he said.
