The 57th World Health Assembly (WHA) will be held in Geneva from 17 to 22 May this year. Since 1997, a tiny number of countries having "diplomatic relation" with Taiwan have, under the instigation of the Taiwan authorities, tabled Taiwan-related motions for seven consecutive years at WHA. However, all of those motions were rejected. Year 2004, Taiwan authorities impel some countries, including the Republic of Kiribati and the Solomon Islands, to table Taiwan-related motion again, and claim to hoist a voting on the motion. On this, the Chinese side expresses grave concern and opposes firmly.

According to Resolution 2758 of the UN General Assembly, Resolution WHA 25.1, the Constitution of World Health Organization and other stipulations concerned, to table Taiwan-related motion at WHA is without legal ground. The fact that Taiwan-related motions were rejected for seven consecutive years at WHA shows that the majority of WHO Member States are unanimously oppose to meaningless action of this kind.

The Central Government of China cares about the health and well-being of people in Taiwan, and keeps taking active measures to promote exchanges across the Taiwan Strait and helping Taiwan to acquire information from WHO. With the approval of the Chinese Government, WHO experts went to Taiwan on fact-finding trips on SARS on several occasions, and Taiwan experts attended WHO-sponsored professional conferences and seminars on SARS and cancer. The fact proves that Taiwan has open access to information from WHO.

The Central Government of China has also expressed its welcome message to Taiwan medical experts on joining the Chinese delegation at WHA. If Taiwan needs WHO technical assistance and raises its request with the Central Government, the latter will give positive consideration to such a request. Our attitude, is sincere, is patient. Regrettably, the Taiwan authorities have made no response. This means that the real intention of Taiwan authorities does not lie in the health issue.

That the Taiwan authorities instigate a small number of countries to table Taiwan-related motion and hoist a voting is, in essence, to create "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan". Why does Taiwan authorities stick to their own way despite the grave result? One purpose is to pressurize a few of countries to show the cards in their hand, enkindle the confrontation among the Member States, and take the advantage to politicize health issue. If this happen, the normal activities of WHO will be disrupted, and the cooperative atmosphere among the Member State will also be destroyed.