| Sick of the Non-Sense |
19 May 2003
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WHO Denies Taiwan Observer Status
The World Health Organization denied Taiwan observer status on May 19, despite the SARS problem in Asia. This folly was brought about by the Beijing and Taipei governments, which agree that Taiwan is part of China, but disagree on which of them is the legitimate government of all of China. Meanwhile, people continue to get sick and die.
WHO executive director for communicable diseases (what a great title) David Heymann has said, "We don't believe that Taiwan has suffered by not being a member of the WHO because we've been able to provide the technical assistance that they need." Maybe. However, there is no case at all that says Taiwan, and the human race as a whole, is better off being outside the WHO.
In the end, the absence may not harm Taiwan, as Mr. Heymann says, but it clearly weakens the WHO. Health in the age of the jet, and Ebola, is a global issue from which no one can be excluded -- even if humanity does exclude, the viruses and bacteria won't. Membership in the organization must be universal, regardless of politics, or the threat from disease will be greater for everyone than it needs to be.
Both Chinas are playing politics with the health of the entire planet. This is an imperialism of greater consequence than Mr. Bush's drive to Baghdad. That the health of every person on this planet is at risk because of the unsatisfactory end to the Chinese Civil War is ridiculous. Given their ability to deal with the SARS problem, perhaps neither regime should be considered legitimate.