全文／力挺台灣！美衛生部長嗆爆中國：不應該玩弄政治

記者陳政宇／台北報導

美國衛生部部長艾薩（Alex Azar）9日率團訪問台灣，是從1979年以來，訪台層級最高的美國內閣閣員。艾薩今（11）日與外交部長吳釗燮會面時表示，他親眼見證將台灣排除在國際場域外，所導致的傷害和負面結果，「國際組織不應該成為玩弄政治的場域。」

▲ 艾薩今日與吳釗燮會面，並力挺台灣參與國際組織。（圖／記者陳政宇攝影）

艾薩致詞全文（中文）

謝謝吳部長歡迎我到訪台灣，很高興今天有機會與您會面。我也很榮幸為川普總統帶來問候，並在此肯定台灣的公衛領導地位。

新冠病毒的危機提醒了我們，台灣在國際舞台上有許多讓人引以為傲的成就。台灣的防疫措施是世界的典範。此外，你們也向鄰國伸出援手，包括太平洋島國，以「台灣能幫忙，而且台灣正在幫忙」的標語捐贈物資，並提供直接的技術協助。

美國認為台灣的成就應該被世界舞台認可，台灣也應該要能夠在國際會議中分享經驗及世界一流的專長，這點我已經多次在世界衛生組織中闡明，然而，台灣在過去四年內都無法以觀察員的身分參與世界衛生組織。

一直以來，我親眼見證將台灣排除在國際場域外所導致的傷害和負面結果。例如，在2018年的春天，世界衛生組織緊急呼籲籌募資金，以因應剛果民主共和國西部地區爆發的伊波拉病毒疫情。台灣有意捐助一百萬美元，作為這場重要戰役的基金，但由於台灣在世界衛生組織中的地位而引起的政治爭論，最終使這項捐款胎死腹中。

國際組織在任何時刻，尤其是在疫情大流行期間，都不應該成為玩弄政治的場域。

國際組織應作為促進有建設性、開放對話及合作的平台，而開放精神正是台灣防疫措施的指導方針，美國對台灣的這項成就深感驕傲，我們也將持續提倡台灣在公共衛生等重要議題上，能為世界做出的諸多貢獻。

我很期待今天能和吳部長討論這些議題，以及台灣的全球衛生領導地位。

▲ 艾薩盛讚台灣的防疫成就「應被世界認可」。

艾薩致詞全文（英文）

Thank you, Minister Wu, for welcoming me to Taiwan and for the opportunity to meet with you today. It is an honor to be here to bring greetings from President Trump and to be here to recognize Taiwan’s health leadership.

The COVID-19 crisis has reminded us all that Taiwan has a great deal to be proud of on the world stage. You have been a model for the world in your COVID-19 response. Beyond that, you have come to the aid of your neighbors, including the Pacific island states, with donated supplies and direct technical assistance under the slogan Taiwan can help, Taiwan is helping.

The United States believes that Taiwan’s accomplishments should be recognized on the world stage, and that Taiwan should be able to share these lessons and its world-class expertise in international forums. I have made that point repeatedly at the World Health Organization, from which Taiwan has been excluded as an observer for the last four years.

I have been a witness to the harmful and counterproductive results of excluding Taiwan from these international settings. In the spring of 2018, for instance, the World Health Organization put out an urgent call for funding to respond to an Ebola outbreak in the western Democratic Republic of the Congo. Taiwan offered a million dollars for this important fight, but the political bullying over Taiwan’s status at WHO ended up making this donation impossible.

Especially during a pandemic, but at all times, international organizations should not be places to play politics.

They must be venues for constructive, open dialogue and cooperation. That spirit of openness is what has guided Taiwan’s response to the pandemic and the United States is proud to recognize that achievement. We will continue advocating for the contributions Taiwan can make to the world on important issues like health.

I look forward to discussing these issues and Taiwan’s global health leadership with Minister Wu today.