Politicizing SARS<\/p>\n
The letter by Derek Hsu of the Taipei Economic and Trade
\nOffice published in The Jakarta Post on April 29 tried hard to
\nconfuse public opinion by distorting the facts. I think it is
\nnecessary to further elaborate on some points.<\/p>\n
The battle against SARS has come to a critical point. The
\ngovernments, people, health care workers and scientists of
\ncountries and regions are making a concerted effort, running
\nagainst time, to combat the SARS virus. They are going all out to
\nalleviate and control the spread of the virus, and to develop a
\ntreatment and a vaccine in order to win this war as soon as
\npossible.<\/p>\n
However, it is regrettable that in the meantime some
\ninharmonious voices are heard and actions seen. Instead of
\nconcentrating on the fight against SARS, some people are making
\nuse of SARS for political purposes, and sparing no effort to
\nattack and accuse others. They have even not hesitated to
\nfabricate facts in an attempt to advocate Taiwan's entry into the
\nWorld Health Organization (WHO).<\/p>\n
Since 1997, the WHO has rejected the motion of Taiwan's entry
\nfor six executive years. As a province and a region of China,
\nTaiwan is not a sovereign state and is completely different from
\nthe Palestine Authority and the International Red Cross, which
\nare observers at WHO.<\/p>\n
There is a Chinese saying that nothing should be repeated more
\nthan three times. Having been frustrated for six consecutive
\nyears, the Taiwan authorities are stirring up trouble again by
\nattempting to make its way into the WHO and challenging the one-
\nChina principle, even at this critical times when the world is
\nconfronted with the threat of SARS.<\/p>\n
Hsu denied and denounced the medical exchanges across the
\nTaiwan Straits, as well as mainland China's concern about the
\nhealth of their Taiwan compatriots and the SARS cases in Taiwan.
\nIn fact, the communication and the exchanges concerning SARS
\nacross the Straits have been going ongoing. The mainland has
\nprovided Taiwan with its expertise and experience in the
\nprevention and treatment of SARS in various forms.<\/p>\n
No matter whether Hsu acknowledges it or not, the experts feel
\nthat their exchanges have been pragmatic and unimpeded. They have
\nlearned much from each other.<\/p>\n
MA JISHENG, Counselor for Political Affairs, Chinese Embassy,<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>\n
Note: With this letter we close the debate on the China-Taiwan
\nSARS issue.
\n--Editor<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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