▲朱立倫。（圖／朱辦提供）
記者張乃文／綜合報導
武漢肺炎疫情延燒至今，各國也針對國內疫情做出不同處置。世界衛生組織（WHO）11日對肺炎所舉行的會議，台灣則是以「Taipei」名義線上參與。對此，前新北市長朱立倫更投書外交家《The Diplomat》雜誌呼籲，北京當局應停止所有的政治花招，更直言如果北京是個負責任的國際社會成員，就不應對台灣尋求加入WHO視而不見。
非WHO成員的台灣，這次在武漢肺炎疫情延燒的因素下，讓國內外掀起聲援台灣入衛的聲浪，許多國家紛紛表態支持台灣成為WHO防疫的一環。
前新北市長朱立倫也投書外交家《The Diplomat》雜誌呼籲，北京當局在台灣申請加入WHO的議題上停止所有的政治花招，更說，如果北京是個負責任的國際社會成員，就應該讓台灣人民享有健康與國際福祉，不應對台灣尋求加入WHO視而不見。
朱立倫指出，國際社會應該聲援台灣加入WHO，若台灣缺席，台灣人民與世界各國的健康將會面臨更大的風險。他強調，台灣的健保和醫療體系舉世聞名，當國際醫護人員或專家訪台時，也均對台灣的制度驚歎不已。
對於世衛組織仍將台灣排除在外，朱立倫提出了台灣必須加入WHO的2個主要理由。他說，台灣如果不是WHO成員，意味著台灣無法透過世衛組織的突發公共衛生事件系統與管道了解最新的疫情訊息，並快速準確交換訊息，如此一來，台灣和國際社會都將面臨風險，而這也是對台灣人民健康權益的侵犯。
其次，台灣加入WHO將會為國際衛生界做出巨大貢獻，因為台灣在2002－2003年SARS爆發期間已經有應變與預防流感經驗。同時，台灣毗鄰中國大陸，當中國處於疫情緊急情況時，台灣雖然有可能會首先被波及，但也可以成為第一個反應者，提供對岸協助。
▲▼朱立倫投書外交家《The Diplomat》雜誌。（圖／朱立倫辦公室提供）
朱立倫投書全文：
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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