The US Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt visited China last week to engage in some timely health diplomacy. His agenda included discussions with Chinese counterparts about food and drug safety, infectious disease control, including HIV/Aids, avian influenza and the enterovirus outbreak, and public health preparations for the Olympics.
He also had the opportunity to express condolences and discuss support for Chinese health authorities dealing with the devastating earthquake in Sichuan . But, while these issues dominated the headlines, an important item is simmering on the back burner - Taiwan.
The World Health Assembly, the governing body of the World Health Organisation, yesterday began a scheduled six-day meeting. In what has become an annual ritual, Taiwan leverages one of its few remaining diplomatic allies, enticing them to propose it as a member or observer. For the past 11 years, Beijing has blocked the bid on the grounds that only sovereign states, which Taiwan is currently not, are eligible to participate in this UN agency.
This year, Taiwan's formal application has already been rejected. But with a new president scheduled to take office in Taiwan today, there is hope that Taiwan will have better luck next year.
Taiwan's Chen Shui-bian, in office for the past eight years, put ideology and 'Taiwan identity' ahead of public health interests, just as his mainland counterparts have. By insisting that the island apply under the name 'Taiwan', he was certain to raise the ire of Beijing, which stood firm on its 'one China' principles.
Taiwan's new president, Ma Ying-jeou, has indicated willingness to accommodate the mainland on future applications to the WHO, including proposing a name acceptable to Beijing, such as 'Chinese Taipei'.
There is clearly a strong public health argument to make for including Taiwan under the umbrella of the WHO. Mainland authorities recognise this and have agreed in principle to allow Taiwan a greater role, having signed a memorandum of understanding with the WHO in 2005 to allow 'meaningful participation' by Taiwanese medical experts in WHO-related events.
