China objects

This is in response to the letter Taiwan and global health published in The Jakarta Post on March 29, 2003. The article made use of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) as a pretext to criticize the Chinese government, and to advocate Taiwan's entry into the World Health Organization (WHO), whose membership is strictly confined to sovereign states. I wish to present our views and clarification on this matter.

The Chinese government attaches great importance to SARS. After the outbreak of the epidemic, the Chinese government implemented effective measures to protect the health and lives of the people. As a result, the epidemic is under control. The number of new infections has dropped dramatically, the number of patients recovering has increased and the rate of deaths has decreased substantially.

So far, there is no detection of infective cases of SARS in most parts of China. The Chinese people are living and working in a normal manner. It is therefore safe to work, travel and do business in China.

There is excellent cooperation between China and WHO. The two sides have accumulated rich experience in the prevention and control of infectious diseases. Following the outbreak of SARS, WHO dispatched experts to China on three separate occasions at the invitation of the Chinese government to discuss and explore measures to control the spread of SARS with Chinese experts.

WHO experts spoke highly of what the Chinese government has done in terms of prevention and treatment of SARS and the cooperation with WHO. Chinese scientists are working hard to find out the exact cause of SARS, as well as the methods to prevent and treat it.

Blood is thicker than water. The Chinese people across the Taiwan (Formosa) Straits are blood brothers. There is no such question as to a lack of access for Taiwan to the information on the prevention and treatment of SARS on the mainland.

The central government and people throughout mainland China are very concerned about the health and the welfare of our Taiwanese compatriots. There is very good communication in the field of health across the straits. The exchanges of health experts across the straits amounts to thousands of people each year. The channel of information exchange is convenient and smooth. We are sincerely ready to offer as much help as we can in the prevention and treatment of the epidemic to meet the needs of our Taiwanese compatriots.

MA JISHENG, Counselor for Political Affairs, Chinese Embassy, Jakarta