Fighting Coronavirus without Taiwan impedes preventive measures

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Although the World Health Organization (WHO) has not declared the Coronavirus outbreak a global emergency, the number of new cases continues to increase.

A statement from the Taipei Economic and Trade Office (TETO) received by Indonesia Window here on Friday (Jan.24) mentioned that cases of infection that cause inflammation in respiratory system (pneumonia) were also found in Thailand, the United States, Japan, and South Korea.

On January 22, a patient in Taiwan was confirmed to have the virus which was firstly found in Wuhan, China.

Obstacle

Responding to the global condition, WHO held an emergency meeting on Wednesday (Jan. 22) by inviting countries detected to have Coronavirus cases, except Taiwan.

The “One China Principle” adopted by the Chinese Government has made  Taiwan, which is not a WHO member, not invited to the important meeting.

TETO stated that the pneumonia virus that started in Wuhan had widely spread as the Chinese Government had been hiding the epidemic from an early stage.

Taiwan which is geographically close to China considered that the spread of the virus was very threatening to all people, especially those living on the Formosa Island.

If the WHO considers the situation is urgent so as to make the UN organization hold an emergency meeting, it should invite Taiwan to join efforts to prevent the epidemic, the statement said.

Nevertheless, China has remained on its political stance, and prevented Taiwan from participating in the WHO emergency meeting.

China claimed that “no one cares more about the health than the Chinese Government” and “Taiwan’s participation in international organizations should be based on the One China Principle”.

Experience

Handling the Coronavirus which was detected by the WHO on December 31, 2019 in Wuhan, Hubei Province, without Taiwan, was the same as that the SARS virus outbreak in 2003.

At that time, because of the “One China Principle” Taiwan had difficulty getting the first aid from the WHO, leading to the deaths of dozens of Taiwanese medical staff members and a number of people.

TETO’s statement emphasized that the Chinese Government has no right to exclude Taiwan from the global epidemic prevention system, and let alone ignore the safety of Taiwanese and people in the Republic of China (ROC).

Reporting by Indonesia Window