記者陳政宇/台北報導
世界衛生大會(WHA)今(18日)登場,各國首次以視訊會議進行,許多國家力挺台灣參與,但台灣至今仍未受邀參與會議,這已是WHO連續第4年將台灣拒於門外。對此,外交部長吳釗燮今日於疫情記者會上直言,「臺灣人的志氣就是愈挫愈勇,永不放棄。」,並痛批中國嘴上說關心照顧台灣,只會被台灣人厭惡。
▲ 吳釗燮直言,臺灣人的志氣就是愈挫愈勇,永不放棄。(圖/資料照)
武漢肺炎(COVID-19,新冠肺炎)疫情肆虐全球,眾所矚目的世界衛生大會在今日登場,然而我國今年同樣沒收到邀請函,再次被WHA拒於門外,引發社會譁然。對此,外交部長吳釗燮在下午2時的記者會上,將矛頭指向中國政府,更批評WHO秘書處屈服於中國政府壓力,持續漠視2,300萬台灣人民的健康人權,外交部表達高度遺憾及強烈不滿。
▲ 今日的疫情記者會上,陳時中嚴肅地與外交部長吳釗燮召開記者會。(圖/疾管署提供)
吳釗燮致詞全文(中文)如下:
陳部長、各位媒體朋友,大家好!
今年世界衛生大會(WHA)線上會議將在臺北時間今天(5月18日)晚上6點開始,在此跟大家報告,很遺憾我們並沒有收到邀請函。對於世界衛生組織(WHO)秘書處屈服於中國政府壓力,持續漠視2,300萬臺灣人民的健康人權,外交部表達高度遺憾及強烈不滿。
我們知道各界也非常關心今天開始舉行的線上WHA會議將如何處理友邦的提案。受到武漢肺炎(COVID-19)疫情影響,這次WHA的時程大幅縮短,各國都希望將有限的會議時間完全投入對抗疫情。因此,理念相近國家及友邦都建議,等到本年稍晚復會舉行實體會議時,再行討論友邦的提案,以確保提案能夠獲得充分且實質的討論。經過審慎評估,我們同意友邦及理念相近國家的建議,延至大會復會後再進行推案。
即使今年WHA視訊會議我們沒有獲得邀請函,但在努力的過程中,相信國人都感受到來自國際社會的強勁支持。到目前為止,已經有29個國家行政部門以多元方式表達對我國參加WHO的支持。除全體友邦向WHO提案外,也有越來越多理念相近國家高層公開發言表達支持,其中日本首相安倍晉三、加拿大總理小杜魯道(Justin Trudeau)、美國務卿龐培歐(Mike Pompeo)及紐西蘭副總理兼外長Winston Peters都是首度公開表態,意義重大。
此外,有43個國家的政要,包括超過600位北美洲、歐洲、中南美洲國會及歐洲議會的議員,也以多元方式表達對臺灣參與WHO的支持。
而國際輿論也展現支持我國參與WHO的強大聲浪,除了報導、評論與投書外,也有全球各地多家知名媒體相偕發表社論,力挺臺灣,這是史上第一次。
為了展現「臺灣能夠幫忙,而且正在幫忙」(Taiwan can help, and Taiwan is helping.),我們與國內醫療機構合作,透過視訊方式,與國際社會分享成功防疫的「臺灣模式」,也協助友邦和非友邦建立他們對抗武漢肺炎的防線。
我們也和美、歐多國建立針對武漢肺炎的快篩試劑、疫苗和藥物研發的合作。
在滿足國內需求之後,我們也主動提供防疫物資給有需要的國家。截至目前為止,臺灣總共援贈了2,750萬片口罩,131臺熱像儀、3萬5,000支額溫槍以及250組體溫自動量測系統。
接下來,我們繼續規劃第四波援外物資,總共會有約2,350萬片外科口罩、116萬片N95口罩、17萬件防護衣、60萬件隔離衣、80臺呼吸器、34臺PCR快篩檢測儀,以及50萬片奎寧等,協助全球共同防疫。
在這次疫情期間,臺灣的無私援助,幫助了全球80多個國家,也獲得全球各地的報導與讚譽。政府肩負2,300萬臺灣人民的殷切期盼,一定會善用國際支持動能,積極爭取我國際參與的機會。
對於中國政府嘴說關心、照顧臺灣人民衛生健康,卻一再剝奪臺灣人民的衛生人權,臺灣人民只會同感厭惡,不可能放棄對參與國際、貢獻世界的集體願望。
我也要嚴正呼籲WHO秘書處,應聆聽國際的理性呼聲,堅守專業、中立,摒除中國政府的干預,讓臺灣參加WHO所有會議、機制及活動。聯合國大會第2758號決議或WHA第25.1號決議,完全沒有涉及臺灣,也沒有授權中華人民共和國代表臺灣;臺灣已經是一個民主國家,只有臺灣的民選政府有資格代表臺灣人民參與國際組織。
我也要跟臺灣人民報告,雖然這次我們沒有接到WHO的邀請函,但臺灣人的志氣就是愈挫愈勇,永不放棄,而當國際上支持臺灣的聲音越來越強大時,我們離成功的目標就越來越近了。
謝謝大家!
▲ 吳釗燮對WHO表達高度遺憾及強烈不滿。
吳釗燮致詞全文(英文)如下:
Minister Chen; Friends from the media: good afternoon!
This year’s virtual World Health Assembly will begin today, May 18, at 6 p.m. (Taiwan time). Despite all our efforts and an unprecedented level of international support, Taiwan has not received an invitation to take part. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses deep regret and strong dissatisfaction that the World Health Organization Secretariat has yielded to pressure from the Chinese government and continues to disregard the right to health of the 23 million people of Taiwan.
We know that you are all keenly interested in how the WHA will handle the proposal submitted by Taiwan’s diplomatic allies. Due to COVID-19, the agenda for this year’s WHA has been significantly shortened. Understandably, countries want to use the limited time available to concentrate on ways of containing the pandemic. For this reason, like-minded nations and diplomatic allies have suggested that the proposal be taken up later this year when meetings will be conducted normally, to make sure there will be full and open discussion. After careful deliberation, we have accepted the suggestion from our allies and like-minded nations to wait until the resumed session before further promoting our bid.
Even though Taiwan has not been invited to take part in this year’s WHA, our fellow citizens have witnessed the very strong support for Taiwan in the international community. So far, governments from 29 countries have expressed support for Taiwan’s WHO participation. All of our diplomatic allies submitted the related proposal to WHO. And a growing number of world leaders have spoken out publicly for Taiwan. They include Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters. This is of enormous significance.
Moreover, prominent political figures from 43 countries, including more than 600 legislators from North American, European, and Central and South American countries, as well as the European Parliament, have expressed support for Taiwan’s WHO campaign.
International public opinion has seen an outpouring of support for Taiwan’s WHO participation. In addition to media reports, commentaries, and letters to the editor, many renowned news organizations from around the world have published editorials firmly backing our country. This support is unprecedented and overwhelming.
Our actions speak for themselves—Taiwan can help, and Taiwan is helping. Our hospitals have shared the successful Taiwan Model with other countries through videoconferences. We have also helped diplomatic allies and friendly nations establish robust defenses against the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the same time, we’re working closely with the United States and many European countries to develop rapid testing kits, vaccines, and medicines for COVID-19.
Once we made sure that domestic demand was fully met, we also took the initiative to provide epidemic prevention and containment supplies to countries in need. As of today, Taiwan has donated 27.5 million face masks, 131 infrared thermal imaging cameras, 35,000 forehead thermometers, and 250 automatic body temperature detection systems.
We are now preparing a fourth wave of international humanitarian assistance. We will donate another 23.5 million surgical masks, 1.16 million N95 masks, 170,000 protective gowns, 600,000 isolation gowns, 70 respirators, 34 PCR test devices, and 500,000 quinine tablets.
Taiwan’s big-hearted assistance during the pandemic has benefited more than 80 countries, and the world has taken note.
The 23 million people of Taiwan want greater international participation, and the government will take full advantage of the growing momentum in world support to get it.
The people of Taiwan abhor the two-faced behavior of the Chinese government, which claims to care for their health and welfare while actually seeking to deprive them of their right to health at every turn. Our citizens will never relinquish their collective aspiration to participate in international organizations and contribute to the world.
The WHO Secretariat should listen carefully to reasonable appeals from the international community. It should be professional and neutral, resist interference by the Chinese government, and allow Taiwan to take part in all WHO meetings, mechanisms, and activities. UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 and WHA Resolution 25.1 do not address the issue of Taiwan, and they don’t authorize the People’s Republic of China to represent Taiwan, either. Taiwan is a democratic country, and only its democratically elected government has the right to represent the Taiwanese people in international organizations.
Although we have not been invited to this year’s WHA, let me say once again that adversity only serves to strengthen the determination of the Taiwanese people. We will never give up our quest for international participation. In fact, as the voices around the world supporting Taiwan continue to grow louder, we are getting ever closer to achieving our goal.
Thank you!