朱立伦投书外交官杂志：台湾必须加入WHO的两个理由
▲朱立伦。（图／朱办提供）
武汉肺炎疫情延烧至今，各国也针对国内疫情做出不同处置。世界卫生组织（WHO）11日对肺炎所举行的会议，台湾则是以「Taipei」名义线上参与。对此，前新北市长朱立伦更投书外交家《The Diplomat》杂志呼吁，北京当局应停止所有的政治花招，更直言如果北京是个负责任的国际社会成员，就不应对台湾寻求加入WHO视而不见。
非WHO成员的台湾，这次在武汉肺炎疫情延烧的因素下，让国内外掀起声援台湾入卫的声浪，许多国家纷纷表态支持台湾成为WHO防疫的一环。
前新北市长朱立伦也投书外交家《The Diplomat》杂志呼吁，北京当局在台湾申请加入WHO的议题上停止所有的政治花招，更说，如果北京是个负责任的国际社会成员，就应该让台湾人民享有健康与国际福祉，不应对台湾寻求加入WHO视而不见。
朱立伦指出，国际社会应该声援台湾加入WHO，若台湾缺席，台湾人民与世界各国的健康将会面临更大的风险。他强调，台湾的健保和医疗体系举世闻名，当国际医护人员或专家访台时，也均对台湾的制度惊叹不已。
对于世卫组织仍将台湾排除在外，朱立伦提出了台湾必须加入WHO的2个主要理由。他说，台湾如果不是WHO成员，意味着台湾无法透过世卫组织的突发公共卫生事件系统与管道了解最新的疫情讯息，并快速准确交换讯息，如此一来，台湾和国际社会都将面临风险，而这也是对台湾人民健康权益的侵犯。
其次，台湾加入WHO将会为国际卫生界做出巨大贡献，因为台湾在2002－2003年SARS爆发期间已经有应变与预防流感经验。同时，台湾毗邻中国大陆，当中国处于疫情紧急情况时，台湾虽然有可能会首先被波及，但也可以成为第一个反应者，提供对岸协助。
▲▼朱立伦投书外交家《The Diplomat》杂志。（图／朱立伦办公室提供）
朱立伦投书全文：
The world is facing a widespread coronavirus outbreak that has killed more than 900 people and infected over 40,000 — the vast majority in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Medical experts and government agencies around the world are working together to stop the spread of the deadly virus, which emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December. At the forefront of fighting this epidemic is the World Health Organization (WHO).
Unfortunately, Taiwan is excluded from WHO participation. So long as Taiwan is absent from the WHO, not only is the healthcare of the Taiwanese people at risk, but the world’s medical community suffers from the loss of a great asset.
Taiwan has the best health care system in the world, according to the 2019 edition of the CEOWORLD magazine Health Care Index. Taiwan’s single-payer compulsory health insurance system and novel electronic health record system awe and wow health experts and officials from around the world when they visit Taiwan.
The WHO is remiss to exclude Taiwan’s participation, especially during the coronavirus outbreak. There are two main reasons to justify Taiwan’s appeal for WHO participation. First, not being a WHO member means Taiwan is not informed of the latest outbreak information through WHO’s “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” system. This puts both Taiwan and the world at risk when information is not exchanged with speed and accuracy through the WHO’s available channels. It is also an infringement of Taiwan’s health rights. Second, Taiwan would be a tremendous contributor to the international health community, not only because Taiwan gained experience during the 2002-2003 SARS outbreak, but also because it is a leader in influenza prevention and is located right next door to mainland China. Taiwan can be the first responder to China’s emergency needs, though it also suffers first from China’s failures.
I must call out to Beijing to stop its political maneuvers to exclude Taiwan from WHO participation and let health welfare ring free.
The current state of cross-strait relations is at the root of the PRC’s objection to Taiwan’s WHO participation. It is unwise for Beijing to allow a political dispute to hinder livelihood issues. It is wrong and unjust and hurts Taiwanese-Chinese people-to-people relations.
If Beijing is a responsible international stakeholder, it should not turn its back when Taiwan seeks international health participation.
Brookings Institution scholar and former chairman and director of the American Institute in Taiwan Richard Bush has rightly said that without Taiwan’s participation, the WHO would be a health organization that does not represent the world. Taiwan is an integrated part of the world and should not be excluded over the PRC’s political maneuvers.
The WHO’s mission is to advocate and catalyze global and national actions to resolve health crises, to support the achievement of the health-related millennium development goals and health for all. Leaving Taiwan out creates a hole in the international coverage and deviates from the WHO’s mission. We call for the WHO to give Taiwan observer status. Historically, Taiwan was granted World Health Assembly observer status from 2009 onwards, but that ended because of Beijing’s objections.
The WHO must recognize that the PRC does not have jurisdiction nor governance power over Taiwan. The WHO should not only grant Taiwan’s membership but should also eliminate the internal rule dictating that on matters pertinent to Taiwan, the organization should yield to Beijing. The rule simply does not reflect reality.
Taiwan has earned a reputation as a friendly and peace-loving nation. We have always been a responsible international stakeholder that keeps its end of a bargain. I am especially thankful for our allies that spoke out for us, including our friends in the U.S. Congress, Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau, and Japanese Prime Minister Abe for their support. Taiwan will continue its efforts for international healthcare. We can do more with WHO membership. It is time for the WHO to put politics aside and think about what is good for world health.
Eric Li-Luan Chu, Ph.D., was the mayor of Taiwan’s New Taipei City, former chairman of Taiwan’s opposition KMT, and the KMT’s 2016 presidential candidate.
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