PLA Daily 2003-05-20

　　The refusal by the World Health Assembly (WHA) to give Taiwan observer status demonstrates that no attempt to make "two Chinas" or "One China, One Taiwan" will succeed, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said in Beijing Monday.

　　The 56th WHA on Monday refused a proposal by the Marshall Islands to invite Taiwan to participate as an observer. Spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue noted that this was the seventh time the WHA had turned down Taiwan-related bills.

　　Zhang said the World Health Organization (WHO) was a special organ of the United Nations which was only open to sovereign states. Taiwan as a province of China was ineligible to join the organization or participate in the WHA.

　　The central government of China had always attached great importance to and been very much concerned about the health and safety of all Chinese people, including Taiwan compatriots, Zhang said.

　　After the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) on the island, the central government and mainland compatriots had taken a series of measures in promoting information exchanges and material aid across the Taiwan Straits, she said.

　　The central government had allowed WHO experts to do research in Taiwan and Taiwan health technicians to attend SARS-related technical meetings organized by the WHO. Taiwan's access to health information and technical aid was unrestricted.

　　Zhang said the Taiwan authorities this year had moved a few countries to put forward Taiwan-related proposals to the WHA. These moves violated relevant resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly, and went against the WHO's tenet and principles and would inevitably and naturally be rejected by the WHA.

　　(May 19, Xinhuanet)