• Created：2011-05-21
• Data Source：Bureau Of Consular Affairs
• Counter：2104

No. 158 
May 20, 2011

In response to the issue of an internal WHO memo that used erroneous terminology to refer to and belittled Taiwan, Department of Health Minister Dr. Wen-Ta Chiu, while attending the WHA on behalf of the government, urged the WHO to adopt the ‘WHA model’ in a speech delivered at 11 a.m. (5 p.m. Taipei time) at the general discussion of the 64th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva on May 18, 2011. The statement reads as follows:

“I wish to thank the Director-General for inviting Chinese Taipei to the WHA for the third time. I am sure that, with our concerted efforts, this practice and related arrangements, which may be called the ‘WHA model’, will be reflected to other WHO meetings, mechanisms, information sources and documentation, so that relevant procedures and terminology will be consistent with the practice in the WHA.”

Earlier, Minister Chiu had filed a formal letter of protest with the WHO in person. By speaking at the WHA, he informed the international community of Taiwan’s desire for the ‘WHA model’ to be extended to other WHO meetings and activities. Minister Chiu also urged the WHO to be consistent with the nomenclature used for Taiwan. The aim is to safeguard Taiwan’s dignity and ensure it can participate on a professional footing. 

The government will not relinquish its efforts to protect national dignity. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will persist with urging the WHO to correct the erroneous nomenclature and improper procedures used in its internal documents, so as to maintain national dignity and secure the health rights of the 23 million people in Taiwan. (E)