Taiwan: China Downgrade Member Status
The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) has passed a draft resolution submitted by
Below is an article written by Edwin Hsiao and published by the
Under attack from
The OIE Administrative Committee passed May 21 a draft resolution submitted by
Contents of
"Recognizing that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China ... considering that there was no precedent in OIE to expel a member and considering the fact that OIE had members from non-sovereign regions ... the International Committee of the World Organization for Animal Health resolved to restore the legal rights of the People's Republic of China to OIE in its capacity of an OIE member and to invite Taiwan, China to participate in the activities of OIE as a non-sovereign member that can only be referred to as 'Taiwan, China' in all the activities, documents, publication, Web sites, etc. of OIE."
Using the reasoning that the OIE was a professional organization that had nothing to do with politics, Taiwan was trying to persuade its diplomatic allies and major countries around the world not to back down under China's pressure, David Y.L. Lin, director-general of Department of International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a press conference, CNA also reported May 22.
Lin noted that
When the People's Republic of
In order to resolve the dispute, the OIE adopted Resolution No. 18 in 2003, inviting Taipei China to adopt, within the Organization, the name of "Separate Sanitary Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu," while reaffirming that "adoption of the new name, which replaces the present name, will in no way affect the participation of Taipei China in the existing and future work of the Office, with the rights and prerogatives inherent in its status as Member of the OIE."
Lin said
The MAC urged the international community to pay attention to the situation and condemn