TAIWAN AND THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION(2)

Early day motion 1601, tabled 7 September 2004 by Tom Cox (Labour). Signed by 52 members.

That this House notes with very deep regret that the World Health Organisation, at its recent World Health Assembly meeting in Geneva in May, opposed including on the agenda the issue of Taiwan's participation in the World Health Assembly as an observer; further notes with deep disappointment that the European Union supports that opposition but is pleased to learn of the Explanation of Vote by the European Union that it hopes the World Health Organisation will show flexibility in finding mechanisms to allow Taiwanese medical and public health officials to participate in its activities; is pleased to see the positive support given by the United State of America and Japan to Taiwan's request; rejects the proposal by Director General of the World Health Organisation, Dr Jong-Wook Lee, that Taiwan could be incorporated into the delegation of China at future meetings of the World Health Organisation; and fully supports the request being made by Taiwan for observer status in the World Health Assembly, which is a request made by a democratic and independent country in its own right.

Signatures by party: Labour 39, Conservative 4, Labour/Co-operative 3, Liberal Democrat 3, UUP 2, DUP 1.