TO： PCT Partner Churches and Related
Organizations
Friends
Around the World
SUBJECT： An Appeal and Statement of Purpose
by the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan delegation to the World
Health Assembly, Geneva 2004
Geneva, May 2004
Based on our Christian faith and belief, our
Biblical understanding of love, ethics, and basic human rights
of all peoples, the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan （PCT） humbly
appeals to citizens around the world to support Taiwan’s
application for membership and full participation in the World
Health Organization （WHO） and related World Health Assembly （WHA）.
We seek your support and assistance in bringing this request to
the attention of WHO, the UN, your local MPs/Senators and
respective Governments.
As a faith community we especially appeal to
all PCT partner churches and related ecumenical organizations to
make this an issue of prayer and action. We further ask our
Christian sisters and brothers to bring this request to the
attention of your relevant church committees and church courts.
PCT sincerely and firmly believes the
question of WHO membership transcends politics - it is a matter
of basic human rights. The 23 million citizens of Taiwan, and
the thousands of foreign nationals residing in our country,
should not be deprived of their right to the services WHO
provides. On the other hand neither should we be denied the
right to make our contribution to the world community.
A highly developed, educated, affluent and
democratic nation, the people of Taiwan are eager and willing to
give of their knowledge, expertise and resources to others. This
is clearly demonstrated by the commendable record of both our
Government and various NGOs who have provided international
medical assistance and contributed substantially to humanitarian
aid and disaster relief in other countries on numerous
occasions.
The fact that Taiwan is denied the right to
participate fully in WHO leaves a major gap in the global battle
against epidemics and the general public health and well being
of all God’s people. A fact painfully highlighted in 1998 when
the “entero virus”
infection claimed the lives of nearly 80
Taiwanese children and yet again during the 2003 SARS epidemic.
This is incomprehensible and an immoral state of affairs living
as we do in such a highly developed, technological age and in an
era, more than any other in human history, where the number of
cross-cultural marriages are increasing and international travel
is widely accessible, culminating in the world becoming a global
village community.
It is not too much to ask that Taiwan’s
people be granted the dignity and the right to act as
responsible world citizens along side other nations in an
organization which clearly states in the principles of its
constitution：
The enjoyment of the highest attainable
standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every
human being without distinction of race, religion, political
belief, economic or social condition.
The health of all peoples is fundamental to
the attainment of peace and security and is dependent upon the
fullest co-operation of individuals and States.*
Fundamental to our faith as members of the
universal Christian church is the greatest commandment to love
God and likewise to “Love your neighbour as you love yourself
（Mark 10：27b）. PCT members have both a spiritual and moral
obligation to love our neighbours in our own land and globally.
Undoubtedly, the people of Taiwan care deeply
for WHO and all it stands for but the question remains - who
cares for Taiwan？
We thank you for your solidarity and action.
Sincerely yours,
Rev. Chen Dao-Shiung, Moderator 49th General
Assembly
Rev. Chen Hsin-Liang ,Vice Moderator 49th
General Assembly
Rev. William J. K. Lo, General Secretary
E-mail： PCT General Secretary <
gs@mail.pct.org.tw >
*Constitution of WHO； Source -
http：//www.who.int/en/
