Taiwan holds talks with China over joining WHO (Roundup)

Dec 30, 2008, 13:51 GMT

Taipei/Beijing - Taiwan is holding talks with China on Taipei's wish to join the World Health Organization (WHO), President Ma Ying-jeou said in an interview published Tuesday.

In the interview with Taiwan's news portal Yahoo.com, Ma said Taipei hoped to attend the World Health Assembly (WHA), the WHO's annual conference, in May 2009, and was discussing the issue with Beijing.

'We are discussing this with the other side, and they are willing to discuss this with us,' he said, but added that 'it takes great effort.'

Asked about Taiwan's plan to rejoin the United Nations, Ma said the obstacle was the dispute with China over sovereignty. 'As there is no solution now, what we should do is to reduce problems, not to create problems,' he said.

'The two sides do not need to argue who is the true representative of China's sovereignty. We can put down these issues and tackle more urgent issues,' he said.

China reacted to Ma's statement by saying that Taipei and Beijing should settle problems under the 'one-China' principle.

'Beijing upholds the 'one-China' principle in handling cross- strait ties and in addressing Taiwn's request for participation in international activities,' Qin Gang, spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry, said Tuesday.

'Under the 'one-China' principle and on that basis, the two sides can jointly make efforts and create conditions. I believe that through consultation, a suitable solution can be found,' he added.

The government of the Republic of China, which lost the Chinese Civil War against the communists, fled to Taiwan in 1949, but continued to hold China's seat in the UN until 1971 when Taiwan was expelled, allowing the communist People's Republic of China to become the sole representative of China. Taiwan also lost its seat in UN- affiliated organizations.

In 1993, Taiwan launched an international campaign to rejoin the UN and related organizations, such as the WHO, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

When Ma, from the China-friendly Chinese Nationalist Party, took office in May, he vowed to improve ties with China but asked Beijing to stop blocking Taipei from joining international organizations.

Chinese President Hu Jintao said that so long as Taiwan did not seek independence, the two sides could discuss Taiwan's wish to join international organizations.