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.
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