TAIWAN ANNOUNCES BREAKTHROUGH AGREEMENT ON WHA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TAIPEI 000510

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP AND IO/T (BLACKWOOD),GENEVA FOR HOHMAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV WHO TW CH
SUBJECT: TAIWAN ANNOUNCES BREAKTHROUGH AGREEMENT ON WHA

REF: TAIPEI 467

Classified By: Director Stephen M. Young for reasons 1.4(b/d)

Summary
--------------


1. (C) Based on an April 28 personal invitation from WHO
Director General Margaret Chan, Taiwan Health Minister Yeh
Ching-chuan will lead a delegation to observe the May World
Health Assembly meeting, VFM Andrew Hsia told the Director
during an April 29 meeting. The invitation is the result of
Taipei's engagement with the WHO, improvements in
cross-Strait relations, and the efforts of Taiwan's
international partners. Hsia thanked the United States for
its longstanding support, urged an appropriate U.S.
endorsement of the outcome, and requested a bilateral meeting
with the U.S. delegation on the margins of the WHA session.
End Summary.

WHO Head Invites Taiwan to Observe WHA
--------------


2. (C) On April 28, Taiwan Health Department Minister Yeh
Ching-chuan received a fax from WHO Secretary General
Margaret Chan, inviting Taiwan to attend the May 18-27 WHA
meeting as an observer, VFM Andrew Hsia told the Director
during a meeting on the morning of April 29. Importantly,
Hsia said, the invitation refers to Yeh as "Minister" of the
Department of Health of Chinese Taipei. Taiwan will accept
the "very pleasing" invitation, with Yeh leading a delegation
composed primarily of health experts. Hopefully, Hsia said,
the U.S. and Taiwan delegations can meet on the margins of
the WHA session.


3. (C) The invitation is for this year's WHA meeting only,
Hsia said, stressing that there is no such thing as a
permanent WHA observer. He claimed that Taiwan is being
treated just like the other six WHA observers, who receive an
invitation each year. Taiwan would have exactly the same
rights and obligations of these other observers and would be
on an equal footing with them. In a meeting after the
announcement, Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng warned
the Director that, while the fact that the invitation came
from the WHO itself was a positive development, the DPP would
certainly claim the use of "Chinese Taipei" compromises
Taiwan's sovereignty and dignity. Wang added that the DPP
could also argue that the invitation fails to address the
larger issue of Taiwan's involvement in the organization
itself. Hsia, Health Minister Yeh and MAC Chairperson Lai
Hsin-yuan, held a joint press Conference at midday to
announce this decision. President Ma's office released a
statement, noting that the President chaired a high-level
meeting to discuss the development and echoing the point Hsia
made privately with the Director. Ma is expected to address
the issue publicly as well, possibly on April 30.

Taiwan Hopes for U.S. Statement, Letter, HHS Bilateral
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4. (C) During the morning meeting, the Director congratulated
Hsia and noted that rising concerns about swine flu will make
this year's WHA session particularly important. Washington
was likely to issue a statement on April 29, supporting the
development, he said. Hsia again thanked the United States
for its efforts and said Taipei would welcome such a
statement. MOFA Director General for North American Affairs
Harry Tseng noted that, in previous years, the U.S. HHS
Secretary had sent WHO DG Chan a letter in support of
Taiwan's meaningful participation. A similar letter,
welcoming this outcome, might now be appropriate, he
suggested.

Invitation Not Just a PRC Decision
--------------


5. (C) The PRC reportedly has been active in Washington and
other capitals, Hsia said, portraying the invitation as
having come at Beijing's request. This is not entirely
accurate, he insisted. For years, Taiwan has made clear that
it believes the ability to take part in WHO activities to be
a fundamental human right of the 23 million people on the
island. More concretely, in March, Taiwan CDC head Steven

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Kuo sent a letter to his point of contact at the WHO
expressing Taiwan's strong desire to observe at the May WHA
session. It was this, coupled with the improvement in
cross-Strait ties and the support of the United States and
others, that led to a breakthrough, according to Hsia.


6. (C) The Director asked about access, noting that, in the
past, Taiwan media and others had encountered problems
gaining access to public activities of UN-affiliated
organizations. Based on contacts between Taiwan and PRC
health officials, Hsia said, it appeared that this will not
be an issue in May. Recent instances in which Taiwan (i.e.,
Republic of China) passport holders were refused access to UN
activities open to the public appeared to be unprompted acts
by UN security personnel anxious to avoid offending Beijing
rather than the result of PRC pressure.

Public Reactions Split Along Party Lines
--------------


7. (C) Reactions to the announcement reflected partisan
political divisions on Taiwan. In a meeting with the
Director after the announcement, Taoyuan county magistrate
and Ma Ying-jeou confidante Eric Chu said Taiwan and China
had agreed on the arrangement several weeks ago. Although Ma
is aware that die-hard opposition politicians will criticize
the fact that the WHO letter refers to Chinese Taipei rather
than Taiwan or the Republic of China, Chu said, Ma is
confident that most people will be pleased with the
arrangement. People accept the name "Chinese Taipei," he
said, and the swine flu scare has driven home the importance
of integrating Taiwan into the global health system. In
comments to the press, pro-KMT academics attributed the
invitation to the improved cross-Strait environment since Ma
took office and Beijing's need to win the "hearts and minds"
of the 23 million Taiwan people. These same academics warned
that it is too early to say if Beijing will accept the same
model for other international organizations.


8. (SBU) On the other hand, opposition DPP legislators
William Lai and Huang Wei-cher downplayed the impact of
Taiwan's participation in this year's WHA meeting in the
press, focusing instead on the (supposed) concessions the Ma
administration must have made to secure the invitation. They
also questioned whether Taiwan's delegation will be
considered part of a larger China delegation, thereby
minimizing or eliminating any significant participation by
Taiwan.

Looking at Other UN Technical Organizations - Later
-------------- --------------


9. (C) Asked by the Director whether Taiwan's WHA
participation might serve as a model for involvement in other
UN agencies, Hsia said the idea is "worth studying." For
now, Taiwan is focused on Geneva in May, but there are other
technical organizations that would benefit from Taiwan's
presence. Hsia noted in particular the IMO and ICAO, but
said MOFA is still studying what its next steps might be.

WHA Should Not Slow Progress on U.S. Beef
--------------


10. (C) Noting the number of issues on the Health Minister's
plate, including swine flu and now the need to travel to
Geneva for at least a week, the Director emphasized the
importance of not losing sight of the need to make progress
soon on opening Taiwan's market fully to U.S. beef. The
Health Department is Taiwan's key bureaucratic player on the
issue. Hsia assured the Director that Yeh remains well aware
of U.S. concerns.

Comment
--------------


11. (C) Today's announcement is undoubtedly particularly
welcome in light of the blanket coverage swine flu is
receiving in the Taiwan media. The only real "surprise" in
today's announcement was WHO DG's use of the Yeh
Ching-chuan's title of "Minister," and the official overtones
it carries. While we expect that many in the opposition
would criticize almost any deal the Ma administration
reached, and will do so on this occasion, we believe that

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this breakthrough will be well-received (and rightly so) by a
broad majority of ordinary people here.
YOUNG