TAIWAN RECEPTIVE TO UNILATERAL ADHERENCE TO IHR

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 001540 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE PASS AIT/W, GENEVA FOR DAVID HOHMAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO PREL WHO CH TW SUBJECT: TAIWAN RECEPTIVE TO UNILATERAL ADHERENCE TO IHR RESPONSIBILITIES REF: A. STATE 66826 B. BEIJING 08103 ¶1. (U) AIT delivered ref A demarche to Department of Health (DOH) Director General Peter Chang on May 2. Drawing from points in ref A, ESTHOFF also briefed Chang about U.S. efforts in Beijing seeking additional participation for Taiwan in WHO health activities. Chang seemed pleased with this approach but had some procedural issues he wished to raise with AIT. Pls. see action request in para 3. --Chang said he had met with high-level EU officials during a recent European trip and through them learned that WHO had already notified some EU members that WHO acknowledged Taiwan's participation in the Global Outbreak Alert Response Network (GOARN) through Taiwan's Center for Disease Control (TCDC) and that Taiwan experts had been put on the GOARN contact list. Chang inquired if WHO had notified the U.S. of the same. --As for Taiwan's unilateral assumption of International Health Regulations (IHR) responsibilities, Taiwan is unsure what the best venue for that would be and at what specific time. Chang asked if the U.S. believes that a press conference timed before the start of the WHA meetings would be most appropriate. ¶2. (SBU) Regarding ref A concerns about statements by Taiwan officials favoring full WHO membership for Taiwan, Chang said he was aware that a number of Legislative Yuan members and NGOs had been lobbying for full WHO membership for Taiwan but that they had not yet approached government officials and solicited help. Chang said Taiwan's official aim had not changed, namely to obtain observer status at the World Health Assembly (WHA). In response to ref A concerns about outdated and misleading information on Avian Influenza and Taiwan's status at WHO on official websites, Chang said that the DOH is in the process of revising and updating its website so it reflects the current facts and official position. ¶3. (SBU) Action request. AIT requests assistance in verifying if WHO Secretariat has communicated with its EU membership acknowledging Taiwan's participation in GOARN (and whether the U.S. representative has been notified of same). We would also appreciate guidance on the best venue and timing for Taiwan to announce its unilateral assumption of IHR responsibilities. YOUNG