Premier Lin Chuan (林全) yesterday said that “Chinese Taipei,” a name Taiwan uses in many international organizations, is “unsatisfactory, but acceptable.”
Lin made the remarks in response to criticism over Minister of Health and Welfare Lin Tzou-yien’s (林奏延) use of “Chinese Taipei” rather than “Taiwan” throughout his five-minute speech on Wednesday at the 69th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, Switzerland.
“It is reality that we are participating in international organizations under this name, hoping that our participation in international activities and the opportunities to engage in international exchanges and our chance to contribute to the world would not be impeded,” Lin said.
Lin, who is leading the Taiwanese delegation at the WHA, on Wednesday told reporters that he had delivered a protest letter to the WHA to complain about its reference to the “one China” principle in its invitation to Taiwan this year.
Lin said he delivered the letter in person on Monday to a legal counsel of the WHO, asking the person to hand it over to WHO Director-General Margaret Chan (陳馮富珍).
In the letter, he wrote that the principle behind the nation’s attendance at the WHA is to be professional and pragmatic and to contribute to and participate in the global health system, Lin said, adding that Taiwan’s participation has nothing to do with politics or the “one China” principle.
The letter also conveyed Taiwan’s protest over the WHA’s late invitation, Lin said.
Taiwan, which has been taking part in WHA activities since 2009, received an invitation this year that made reference to the “one China” principle and said that Taiwan is no longer a member of the UN or the WHO.
For the first time, the invitation mentioned UN Resolution 2758, WHA Resolution 25.1, and the “one China” principle.
The first resolution was passed by the UN in 1971, recognizing the People’s Republic of China as the only legitimate representative of China to the UN, while the second resolution was adopted by the WHO in 1972 to expel the Republic of China.
The inclusion of the “one China” principle in the invitation was seen in Taiwan as an attempt to denigrate its sovereignty.
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