In response to a question concerning the latest approval of the proposal, Zhang said that in spite of China's objection, the US Congress persisted in passing the proposal. China expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm objection as well as proposed solemn representations to US side, she added.

Zhang said Taiwan is a part of China, and according to the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and the regulations of the WHO, Taiwan is unqualified to join the WHO as a member or as a quasi-member. Neither is Taiwan eligible to participate in the WHO conference as an observer.

The central government of China is concerned about the health of Taiwan compatriots and actively promoted the exchanges and cooperation in the health arena across the Straits, she said.

Since the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), said the spokeswoman, the central government of China has been sharing related information and experience with Taiwan and supported the inspection of WHO experts in Taiwan. Taiwan's channel of obtaining health information is unblocked.

Zhang said it is clear the Taiwan authority wishes to make a political issue in the name of SARS, in order to create "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan" in the international community. Since 1997, such an attempt by the Taiwan authority was refused for six consecutive years.

This time, she stressed, it is doomed to failure again.

Zhang said China urged the US government to see clearly the political maneuvers by the Taiwan authority, to abide by the one-China policy and the three Sino-US joint communiqués and to object definitively to the above proposal by not supporting Taiwan's participation in the WHO, in order to avoid obstacles to the development of Sino-US relations.

Taiwan Cannot Join Any International Organization

There is no excuse for Taiwan to join any international organization, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue went on.

It is self-evident that Taiwan, as a province of China, is ineligible to participate in the World Health Organization (WHO), an organization open only to sovereign states, nor is it eligible to attend the World Health Assembly as an observer, Zhang said, noting that China resolutely opposes any form of Taiwanese participation in the international organization.

Cooperation and communication across the Taiwan Straits have been smooth since the outbreak of the SARS in Taiwan, and the Chinese central government attaches great importance to and is concerned about the health and safety of Taiwanese compatriots, Zhang said.

Some health organizations from the mainland and Taiwan Province held a joint seminar on SARS in late April. The two sides also discussed the SARS epidemic via tele-conference on May 9. In addition, experts from Taiwan have inspected Guangdong and Beijing to learn about the situation on the mainland.

The mainland and Taiwan enjoy sound and smooth cooperation in fighting SARS, she said.

Beijing to Hold International Anti-SARS Forum

An international anti-SARS forum will be held in Beijing from June 3 to 4 in order to implement the joint communiqué issued in the China-ASEAN special meeting on severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), according to Zhang.

The forum will focus on the exchange of information and experience on SARS prevention and treatment, especially with regard to epidemiological research, clinical treatment, diagnostic reagents and medicinal exploration, in an effort to seek more international cooperation in the anti-SARS campaign.

In addition to the ASEAN countries, Japan and the Republic of Korea, experts and scholars from other nations and regions have also been invited to attend the forum, Zhang said.

US-ROK Joint Statement Welcomed

The joint statement just issued by the United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK) presidents shows the consensus of the international community for resolving the nuclear issue of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) peacefully, the spokeswoman said.

The joint statement expresses the two nations' confidence in a peaceful solution to the DPRK nuclear issue.

Zhang said the DPRK nuclear issue has been a common concern of the international community since last October. China has made great efforts for a peaceful solution and hosted a meeting in Beijing in April attended by delegations of the United States and the DPRK. The meeting was meaningful and paved the way for a peaceful solution.

The key issue now is to maintain the momentum of dialogue, she said, noting that China has maintained diplomatic contacts with all parties concerned and China hopes the Beijing dialogue can be continued.

China also welcomes the positive role of relevant nations play, and China is ready to make concerted efforts with the international community to address the DPRK nuclear issue, Zhang said.

Japan's War-contingency Legislation Concerned

China is concerned about Japan's House of Representatives passing a set of contingency bills.

It would be in Japan's long-term interest and conducive to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region for Japan to adhere to its strictly defensive military policy, Zhang said.

(China.org.cn May 16, 2003)