Overture 04-64. On Urging the World Health Organization to Grant Observer Status to Taiwan—From the Presbytery of Baltimore.

The Presbytery of Baltimore overtures the 216th General Assembly (2004), as a matter of the public health of Taiwan, its Asian neighbors, and the entire world, to urge the World Health Organization (WHO) to grant Observer Status to Taiwan. Specifically the 216th General Assembly (2004) does the following:

1. Directs the Stated Clerk to communicate to Lee Jong-wook. M.D., director-general of the World Health Organization, the urgent need, as a matter of public health, for the people of Taiwan to be represented in the WHO; and the support of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for Observer Status for Taiwan, with copies provided to the secretary-general of the United Nations, the secretaries of State and Health and Human Services, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the stated clerk(s) (or equivalent) in our partner denomination(s) on Taiwan and such other mission partners as may be appropriate as determined by the Stated Clerk; and the general secretaries of the National and World Councils of Churches and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches.

2. Directs the PC(USA) United Nations Office and the Presbyterian Washington Office to advocate, as appropriate, for Observer Status for Taiwan in the WHO.

3. Urges the government of the United States to support and advocate for Observer Status for Taiwan in the WHO.

4. Encourages health organizations, particularly those concerned with the global spread of infectious diseases, and specifically including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to cooperate with Taiwan in the development of strategies for the control and prevention of infectious diseases.

Rationale

Recently we have seen examples of the serious international consequences of the spread of infectious diseases; SARS and avian flu being two significant examples.

It is vitally important that all nations of the world cooperate in worldwide public health efforts to control infectious diseases, as well as in the resolution of many other serious public health problems.

The fact that the 22 million people on Taiwan are not represented in the World Health Organization, and are thus cut off from significant public health measures, including testing, warning, monitoring, and similar efforts, endangers their lives, the lives of their neighbors, and indeed, in this world of extensive world travel, the lives of people everywhere.

The Presbytery of Baltimore brings this matter to the attention of the General Assembly out of a concern for the public health of the peoples of the world. The presbytery realizes that there are international political ramifications of granting official status to Taiwan in the WHO, but believes that the public health issues outweigh the political issues.

The Presbytery of Baltimore is already on record in support of United Nations membership for Taiwan (Overture 94-8) and by extension in its specialized agencies such as the WHO. However, we believe that advocacy of this position, without adequate negotiation with the government of mainland China, must be approached with great care. It should remain separate from the public health issues that Observer Status with the WHO seeks to resolve.