European-American
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Editorial
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EU and China |
Will the EU kowtow to
China again?
By Dr, Stan Lai, Spokesperon
for
the Formosan Association for Public Affairs Europe
Posted
June 11, 2007
|
For an alliance that
claims to value democracy and human rights, the European Union
has a funny way of showing it. The EU's continued reluctance to
fully support Taiwan's entry into the World Health Organization
(WHO) and other international organizations betrays its failure
to stand up for human rights in the international stage. At this
year's World Health Assembly (WHA), the EU will again most
likely refuse to support the right to universal health for 23
million Taiwanese citizens when Taiwan makes its annual bid for
WHO admission.
The EU's perplexing reluctance to support a democratic
nation like Taiwan can be traced to its confused "one China"
policy. In fact, we can ask whether the "one China" policy is
anything different than allowing China to dictate European
foreign policy in East Asia. However, at this year's WHA, Europe
has an opportunity to show that its Asian policy is made in
Brussels rather than Beijing by fully supporting Taiwan's entry
to the WHO, in spite of the "one China" policy.
If the EU were to support Taiwan's entry bid, China's
reaction would be entirely predictable. A spokesperson for China
would angrily denounce such an action, claim that it violated
the "one China" policy, and emphatically state that
Sino-European ties were being jeopardized. But while Chinese
rhetoric would appear implacable, it is unlikely that any
substantial repercussions would ever materialize.
It also begs the question: why should the EU listen to
China on this issue anyway? China has long since lost any
credibility it has in the area of international health
cooperation. The rapid spread of SARS on an international scale
was essentially caused by China's refusal to be forthright and
transparent about the gravity of the SARS situation within its
borders. Even four years later, China is unwilling to fully
share data about epidemics such as avian bird flu with the WHO.
The disturbing reports of the Chinese state sanctioning the
organ harvesting of Falun Dafa practitioners directly
contradicts WHO standards.
In any case, it is in Europe's interest to have Taiwan as
a WHO member, fully integrated in the international health
community. With bilateral trade totalling 35 billion Euros
annually and the large number of travellers between Taiwan and
Europe, the EU simply cannot afford to have Taiwan outside the
scope of international prevention efforts against transmittable
diseases. For its part, Taiwan has shown that it can make
considerable contributions to international health, including
assistance to AIDS prevention, and Tsunami victims.
China denies that the lack of membership impedes Taiwan's
access to WHO resources. But European policy makers should
recognize that this claim is simply nonsense. During the 2003
SARS outbreak, WHO officials waited seven weeks before going to
Taiwan and offering assistance. In 1999, the WHO refused to
provide direct assistance to Taiwan as it suffered 3000
casualties from an earthquake registering 7.6 on the Richter
scale.
Despite its continued exclusion, Taiwan has shown a
willingness to cooperate fully with WHO authorities. Even while
WHO officials were snubbing Taiwan's appeals during the SARS
outbreak, Taiwan was promptly sharing all data it had about the
extent of the epidemic spread. Isn't it ironic that China,
enjoying the full benefits of WHO membership, refuses to abide
by WHO procedures, while Taiwan, repeatedly rejected by the WHO,
willingly embraces WHO standards and goals?
The WHA presents the EU with an excellent opportunity to
stand up for human rights, democracy, and the well-being of all
citizens. The EU can show that it genuinely cares about
international health cooperation and disease prevention while
stating that the health of 23 million Taiwanese citizens trump
the bellicose objections of China. If the EU wants to be known
as an alliance that fights for freedom and the fundamental
rights of all peoples, then it must grasp this opportunity to
fully support Taiwan's inclusion to the World Health
Organization.
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