Japan's Sankei Shimbun newspaper said in yesterday's editorial that the spread of SARS around the world has highlighted the importance of admitting Taiwan to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The prestigious newspaper said China, which has persistently obstructed Taiwan's efforts to join the WHO, will benefit from Taiwan's participation in the organization.
China continued to obstruct Taiwan's bid to join the WHO even after Taiwan began in 1997 to ask for permission to attend the World Heath Assembly as an observer.
The exclusion of Taiwan from the WHO has given rise to human rights and humanitarian concerns, the editorial said. More than 80 Taiwanese people died from a contagious disease in 1989, deaths which could have been avoided if Taiwan were given assistance by the WHO, it claimed.
The editorial said that medical treatment and health services should not be limited by national boundaries and that health and politics should not be mixed. The principle of fair play is enshrined in the charter of WHO, it pointed out.
Many Japanese, American and European government and parliamentary leaders have voiced their support for Taiwan's bid to join the WHA as an observer, the editorial said.
If China gives up its objection to Taiwan's participation in the organization, it will be able to increase cross-strait exchanges and show the world that the Beijing leadership led by Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) is able to leave behind its rigid dogma and follow a more flexible political line, it added.
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