Taiwan congratulated for invitation to join World Health Organization

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves has expressed great pleasure that Taiwan has finally been invited to join the World Health Organization (WHO).{{more}}

Taiwan has been trying to join the assembly since 1997, but that country’s efforts had been thwarted by mainland China.

Prime Minister Gonsalves was speaking at a press conference last Monday, May 18th, where Ambassador Leo Lee, Taiwan’s ambassador to this country, presented EC$3 million towards the national Library project.

Dr Gonsalves said that he is on record with his condemnation of Taiwan’s exclusion from the WHO.

He said that he found that stance absurd and illogical and hence applauded the invitation that was given to Taiwan last month to join the WHO.

He credited the work of new Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou in the easing of tension between Taiwan and Beijing and the support by the international community, including friends of Taiwan like St Vincent and the Grenadines, for the change.

Chinese authorities regard Taiwan as a renegade province but relations between the two have warmed rapidly since President Ma Ying-Jeou, who has adopted a pro China stance, took office last year.

Not everyone is excited about Taiwan’s new stance though. Last Sunday thousands of Taiwanese marched through downtown Taipei to protest President Ma’s policy of greater engagement with China.

China and Taiwan split amidst civil war in 1949, and many protesters reportedly shouted “We are Taiwanese, not Chinese” as they protested in what is on record as being the first large protest against Ma since he took office last May. (KJ)