January 22, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 13 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Pages H974-H976]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  DIRECTING SECRETARY OF STATE TO DEVELOP STRATEGY TO REGAIN OBSERVER 
             STATUS FOR TAIWAN IN WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 353) to direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to 
regain observer status for Taiwan in the World Health Organization, and 
for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 353

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. PARTICIPATION OF TAIWAN IN THE WORLD HEALTH 
                   ORGANIZATION.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized 
     agency of the United Nations, charged with coordinating 
     health efforts within the United Nations system. The World 
     Health Assembly (WHA) is the decision-making body of the WHO, 
     which convenes annually in May to set the policies and 
     priorities of the organization. Statehood is not a 
     requirement for attendance at the WHA, and numerous 
     observers, including non-members and non-governmental 
     organizations, attended the most recent WHA in May 2018.
       (2) Taiwan began seeking to participate in the WHO as an 
     observer in 1997. In 2009, with strong support from 
     successive United States Administrations, Congress, and like-
     minded WHO Member States, and during a period of improved 
     Cross-Strait relations, Taiwan received an invitation to 
     attend the WHA as an observer under the name ``Chinese 
     Taipei''. Taiwan received the same invitation each year until 
     2016, when following the election of President Tsai-Ing Wen 
     of the Democratic Progressive Party, Taiwan's engagement in 
     the international community began facing increased resistance 
     from the People's Republic of China (PRC). Taiwan's 
     invitation to the 2016 WHA was received late and included new 
     language conditioning Taiwan's participation on the PRC's 
     ``one China principle''. In 2017 and 2018, Taiwan did not 
     receive an invitation to the WHA.
       (3) Taiwan remains a model contributor to world health, 
     having provided financial and technical assistance to respond 
     to numerous global health challenges. Taiwan has invested 
     over $6 billion in international medical and humanitarian aid 
     efforts impacting over 80 countries since 1996. In 2014, 
     Taiwan responded to the Ebola crisis by donating $1 million 
     and providing 100,000 sets of personal protective equipment. 
     Through the Global Cooperation and Training Framework, the 
     United States and Taiwan have jointly conducted training 
     programs for experts to combat MERS, Dengue Fever, and Zika. 
     These diseases know no borders, and Taiwan's needless 
     exclusion from global health cooperation increases the 
     dangers presented by global pandemics.
       (4) Taiwan's international engagement has faced increased 
     resistance from the PRC. Taiwan was not invited to the 2016 
     Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization 
     (ICAO), despite participating as a guest at the 
     organization's prior summit in 2013. Taiwan's requests to 
     participate in the General Assembly of the International 
     Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) have also been 
     rejected. In May 2017, PRC delegates disrupted a meeting of 
     the Kimberley Process on conflict diamonds held in Perth, 
     Australia, until delegates from Taiwan were asked to leave. 
     Since 2016, the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, 
     the Republic of Panama, the Dominican Republic, Burkina Faso, 
     and the Republic of El Salvador have terminated longstanding 
     diplomatic relationships with Taiwan and granted diplomatic 
     recognition to the PRC.
       (5) Congress has established a policy of support for 
     Taiwan's participation in international bodies that address 
     shared transnational challenges, particularly in the WHO. 
     Congress passed H.R. 1794 in the 106th Congress, H.R. 428 in 
     the 107th Congress, and S. 2092 in the 108th Congress to 
     direct the Secretary of State to establish a strategy for, 
     and to report annually to Congress on, efforts to obtain 
     observer status for Taiwan at the WHA. Congress also passed 
     H.R. 1151 in the 113th Congress, directing the Secretary to 
     report on a strategy to gain observer status for Taiwan at 
     the ICAO Assembly, and H.R. 1853 in the 114th Congress, 
     directing the Secretary to report on a strategy to gain 
     observer status for Taiwan at the INTERPOL Assembly. However, 
     since 2016 Taiwan has not received an invitation to attend 
     any of these events as an observer.
       (b) Augmentation of Report Concerning the Participation of 
     Taiwan in the World Health Organization.--
       (1) In general.--Subsection (c) of section 1 of Public Law 
     108-235 (118 Stat. 656) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new paragraph:
       ``(3) An account of the changes and improvements the 
     Secretary of State has made to the United States plan to 
     endorse and obtain observer status for Taiwan at the World 
     Health Assembly, following any annual meetings of the World 
     Health Assembly at which Taiwan did not obtain observer 
     status.''.
       (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) 
     shall take effect and apply beginning with the first report 
     required under subsection (c) of section 1 of Public Law 108-
     235 that is submitted after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from

[[Page H975]]

New York (Mr. Engel) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 
5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on H.R. 353, a bill to regain observer status for 
Taiwan in the World Health Organization, currently under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I will start by thanking Mr. Yoho for his work on this 
bill. It passed the House last Congress with broad bipartisan support, 
and I look forward to seeing that happen again today.
  Mr. Speaker, we all know too well that disease knows no borders, so 
it is in the interest of the United States to address global health 
challenges. Without the ability to consistently monitor threats and 
rapidly coordinate responses globally, health and lives will be at 
risk, including those of Americans.
  A critical organization in this global public health effort is the 
World Health Organization's World Health Assembly. This is a summit 
meeting of countries coming together to address global health 
challenges.
  China is actively lobbying against Taiwan's inclusion in these summit 
meetings, part of its larger effort to squeeze Taiwan out of the 
international community. Beijing may believe this serves its own narrow 
interests in asserting control over Taiwan, but it is to the detriment 
of the effort to fight disease wherever it strikes.
  This bill before us today is a step to rectify this situation. H.R. 
353 enhances reporting requirements, which will provide Congress better 
insight into our administration's efforts to obtain Taiwan's observer 
status in the annual World Health Assembly meetings.
  We need to make every effort to ensure that China does not strong-arm 
and manipulate these international meetings, which are important 
opportunities to make significant progress on health issues facing the 
global community. This progress should not be jeopardized by Beijing's 
political agenda.
  I support this measure. We should continue to stand with our partners 
in Taiwan, and this resolution does just that. I urge my colleagues to 
do the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill to help Taiwan regain 
observer status in the World Health Organization, introduced by my good 
friend from Florida (Mr. Yoho).
  The House passed this bill unanimously last Congress. Because Taiwan 
has an especially distinguished record of international contributions 
to global health, Taiwan's exclusion from the WHO is not just unfair, 
it is also dangerous.
  The world is more and more interconnected, and pandemics are a 
constantly growing threat that can cross borders at the speed of a 
jetliner. Unfortunately, President Xi and the Communist Party of China 
continue to jeopardize global health in their campaign to marginalize 
Taiwan.
  Taiwan has been totally excluded from participating at the WHO's 
World Health Assembly for 2 years running. Ultimately, Taiwan's 
expulsion from the WHO illustrates a broader trend. Taiwan is a model 
democracy that makes the world better, while China is a revisionist 
authoritarian power that places the world at risk.
  This year will be significant for U.S.-Taiwan relations as we look 
forward to the 40th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act.
  Xi Jinping just delivered a speech, where he reiterated a willingness 
to use force against Taiwan, and said: ``The Taiwan issue will 
disappear with the rejuvenation of the nation.''
  I urge my colleagues to start this year on the right foot by 
supporting Taiwan's WHO participation and telling President Xi that 
Taiwan will never disappear under our watch.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio 
(Mr. Chabot), a cosponsor of this bill.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas for 
yielding, and I rise in support of H.R. 353, which would direct the 
Secretary of State to develop a strategy to regain observer status for 
Taiwan in the World Health Organization.
  I thank Mr. Yoho for his leadership on this important issue, and I 
thank Mr. Engel as well as my colleague from Texas (Mr. McCaul) for 
this as well. They have both been leaders on this for a long time.
  As a long-time friend of Taiwan and strong supporter of our bilateral 
relationship, I believe it is essential that they be allowed to 
participate in the World Health Organization.
  Taiwan has been routinely marginalized and barred from participation 
in multilateral organizations, despite being a model participant in the 
global community and routinely contributing to global health 
advancement.
  Between 2008 and 2015, Taiwan was invited to participate as an 
observer at the annual meeting of the World Health Assembly, the 
governing body of WHO. Unfortunately, in its efforts to isolate 
President Tsai, China has effectively blocked Taipei from receiving an 
invitation for the past 3 years by erroneously tying Taiwan's 
participation to the so-called One China policy.
  Beijing is playing politics with not only the health of Taiwan's 
people, but with the health of the entire international community 
because, as Mr. McCaul mentioned, the health of the world is linked, 
and so the PRC is essentially putting all our health at risk by being 
belligerent in this particular area.

  This is particularly ridiculous because being an observer of WHA is 
not limited to countries, and so participation does not imply Taiwanese 
independence.
  Furthermore, Taiwan should be allowed to participate on its own 
merits. It is a de facto country and should be treated as such, and it 
would be if it weren't for China's bullying. The sooner the world stops 
participating in Beijing's fiction that Taiwan is part of China, the 
better.
  I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 353.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I yield myself 
such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, diseases and pandemics know no borders. Taiwan is a 
critical player in the global health and the internationally connected 
transportation hub. By excluding Taiwan from participation in the WHO, 
the Communist Party of China is placing the world at risk because of 
their own insecurities.
  I again thank Mr. Yoho and Chairman Engel for this bill which 
deserves our unanimous support.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1700

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  We have supported a strong U.S.-Taiwan relationship since we passed 
the Taiwan Relations Act back in 1979. It is critical that we continue 
to support our close friend and partner, Taiwan, on the world stage and 
ensure they maintain a seat at the table when discussing global health 
challenges.
  But China sees it differently, in pursuit of its own narrow political 
agenda. Beijing is jeopardizing international efforts to improve global 
health and fight transnational disease outbreaks by redoubling efforts 
to prevent Taiwan from participating in organizations like the World 
Health Assembly.
  Our response to global health challenges and crises is stronger when 
more countries are involved in the discussion and prevention. After 
all, diseases go from border to border and across borders. It is 
ridiculous to try to keep Taiwan out.
  Our response to global health challenges is stronger, again, when 
more countries are involved in prevention.

[[Page H976]]

There is no reason that the international community should accept a 
scenario where we allow Beijing to compromise global health as they 
play the bully with respect to their neighbor. That is another reason 
why Kosovo should be admitted as well.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, many of the members who serve in 
this chamber, myself included, value the important relationship the 
United States shares with Taiwan. To this end, The House of 
Representatives unanimously passed legislation in the 115th Congress 
similar to the bill that is being debated today. Both bills direct the 
Secretary of State to develop a strategy to assist Taiwan in regaining 
observer status at the World Health Organization.
  As a cosponsor of H.R. 3320 in the 115th Congress, I commend the 
gentleman from the great state of Florida for bringing this bill to the 
floor early in this Congress. Taiwan has been a model member of the 
global health community, having served as an observer in the World 
Health Assembly from 2009 until 2016. Taiwan has also contributed in 
enhancing regional and global disease prevention networks, along with 
working with other countries to ensure the World Health Organization's 
vision of health being a fundamental human right is successfully met.
  While some outside actors try to prevent Taiwan from contributing to 
the global health community as an observer at the World Health 
Organization, it is important for all of us to realize that the best 
way to address the challenges of today and tomorrow with regards to 
global health is to work together, rather than exclude parties due to 
geopolitics. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 
353.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 353.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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