TAIWAN STRATEGY AT WHA

C O N F I D E N T I A L AIT TAIPEI 001061 SIPDIS SIPDIS DHHS FOR OS/OGH MARK ABDOO; GENEVA FOR DHOHMAN; BEIJING FOR DSELIGSOHN E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2012 TAGS: WHO TBIO PREL CH TW SUBJECT: TAIWAN STRATEGY AT WHA REF: A. STATE 61739 ¶B. TAIPEI 948 ¶C. TAIPEI 805 Classified By: AIT Deputy Director Robert S. Wang for reasons 1.4 b/d ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. This is an action cable (see para 4). MOFA and DOH officials discussed Taiwan's strategy for the upcoming World Health Assembly (WHA) meeting in Geneva with AIT on May 9. MOFA officials stated Taiwan intends to ask its allies to introduce a Supplementary Item on Taiwan's WHO membership application at the WHA General Committee meeting next week. They also noted that TECRO/Washington had informed MOFA that HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt will write a letter of support for Taiwan to WHO DG Margaret Chan. DOH officials reported that DOH Minister Hou had written a letter to his PRC counterpart proposing a non-conditional meeting in Geneva or a mutually convenient place to talk about Taiwan's participation in WHO. They also asked about the possibility of HHS Secretary Leavitt meeting with DOH Minister Hou on the margins of the WHA during Hou's May 11-16 visit to Geneva. AIT requested this meeting with MOFA and DOH Lin to convey the WHA talking points in State 61739. END SUMMARY ¶2. (C) AIT Political Chief and ESTH officer met with MOFA International Organizations (MOFA/IO) Director-General (DG) David Lin and Department of Health Bureau of International Cooperation (DOH/BIC) DG Peter Chang on May 9 to present the WHA talking points in Ref A in support of (1) sharing of Avian Influenza virus samples and (2) retaining smallpox virus samples at CDC Atlanta and Novosibirsk, Russia. Lin and Chang expressed appreciation for the presentation, noting that both issues affect Taiwan's health interests. (Note: Although Taiwan is not a WHO Member or Observer, AIT regularly briefs Taiwan authorities on issues involving the UN and other international organizations that directly affect Taiwan's interests. End Note.) ALLIES TO PUSH MEMBERSHIP AGENDA FOR TAIWAN -------------- ¶3. (C) AIT then inquired about Taiwan's Plans for the WHA meeting in Geneva next week. MOFA/IA DG Lin responded that Taiwan will not be pursuing observer status at WHA this year since all its efforts are focused on its membership quest in WHO. Taiwan intends to ask an ally or allies to introduce a Supplementary Item in support of Taiwan's membership application during the WHA General Committee session in the hope that it will generate discussion and improve Taiwan's participation in the health body. AIT Pol Chief told Lin that although the U.S. does not support such a move, it nonetheless continues to support Taiwan's quest for observer status and meaningful participation. DOH MINISTER HOU REQUESTS LEAVITT MEETING -------------- ¶4. (C) DOH/IA DG Peter Chang told AIT that DOH Minister Hou Shen-mou would like to meet with HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt during Hou's May 11-16 visit to Geneva. AIT agreed to pass this request to Washington for consideration and to convey any response back to DOH. Chang also told AIT that Minister Hou had written a letter to his PRC counterpart proposing a non-conditional meeting in Geneva or elsewhere to discuss WHO issues. (Note: A similar proposal by Hou last year was rebuffed by the PRC. End Note.) AIT Pol Chief stated that the U.S. favors dialogue between the two sides but was aware of the PRC's reticence about meeting with officials from Taiwan. MOFA/IO DG Lin noted that TECRO/Washington had informed them that Secretary Leavitt had also agreed to draft a letter to WHO DG Margaret Chan in support of Taiwan's meaningful Participation in WHO activities. Action for Department: Please advise if HHS Secretary Leavitt can meet with DOH Minister Hou in Geneva during the May 11-16 period. YOUNG