Washington, 10 October 1998
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity to
express my strong support for House Concurrent Resolution 334
calling for Taiwan's participation in World Health Organization
(WHO) activities because it is good policy. It is my hope that the
United States will support this bid.
It does not matter where people live. They may live in the
Chinatown area of my district, the 7th Congressional District of
Illinois, or on the West Coast in Seattle, Washington, or overseas
in Taipei, Taiwan. Regardless, the humane thing to do is to care for
ill children, the elderly, all people. Are we playing politics with
the 21 million people that reside in Taiwan? I am a firm believer in
that the people shall not suffer as a result of government policies.
If women and children are ailing, we need to assist in whatever way
possible that is within our means.
The bottom line is that the people of Taiwan can access better
healthcare if the country is allowed representation in the World
Health Organization.
Moreover, in recent years the people of Taiwan have successfully
defended their participation in a number of multilateral groups,
including, but not limited to the Asian Development Bank, the
Pacific Basin Economic Council. Although the composition for their
participation varies from group to group, their pragmatic importance
is inevitable.
I urge my colleagues to recognize the importance of the country of
Taiwan in the global arena and support their entry into the WHO.