日前，美國參眾兩議外交委員會致函全球五十五個國家政府，表明支持台灣加入世界衛生組，以及五月十八日舉行的世界衛生大會。信中表明，自從武漢肺炎爆發，北京政府政治凌駕公共健康的做法，為世界帶來嚴重後果，而台灣則是可信賴的夥伴，但受制於中國和世衛政治打壓，台灣長久以來都被排斥在國際社會之外，聯合國成員應該支持台灣以觀察員身份參與接下來的世衛大會。

美中經濟與安全審查委員會亦發表報告，指出中國運用在世衛的影響力排斥台灣，無視台灣分享資訊的嘗試，又以軍事演習威脅台灣。

數星期前，美國國務院國際組織事務局在推特發表了多則帖文，連環炮擊北京，聲討中國無理打壓台灣，為台灣重返世衛壯大聲勢。美國總統特朗普又聯同日本、英國、法國、德國和澳洲諸國，致函世衛總幹事譚德塞，要求恢復台灣的觀察員地位，在全球抗疫工作上共襄義舉。美國此時與台灣合作，也是為了對抗中國惡意隱瞞疫情，甚至在國際組織上動作頻繁，意圖藉着武漢肺炎來擴展國際影響力。

台灣曾經擁有世衛的觀察員身份，但在蔡英文上任後，世衛受到中國壓力，取消了台灣的資格。過去十年，台灣申請了參與一百八十多場世衛會議，但只獲參加五十七場，為台灣在國際防疫工作上徒添困難。近年來，台灣政府屢試屢敗，仍然堅持遊說，期望再次參加世衛大會。

台灣抗疫舉世無雙，亮麗成績有目共睹——迅速封關、口罩自給自足、指揮中心統一應變、隔籬檢疫雷厲風行——成爲全球最早確診而最少感染的地區。正所謂「德不孤，必有鄰。」香港人理應乘着國際風向大轉之際，發揮港台互助的精神，助友邦台灣一把，重挫中國銳氣。

故此，我們現在召集各位香港人聯署，促請世界衛生組織194個成員國政府，支持台灣以觀察員身份重返世衛大會，對抗恃強凌弱、隱瞞疫情的中國政府，讓台灣在全球衛生問題上貢獻力量，重拾尊嚴。

 

發起人

張崑陽 民間外交網絡發言人

黃之鋒 香港眾志秘書長

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Recently, The United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and the House Foreign Committee had written jointly to some fifty-five states in support of Taiwan joining the World Health Organization (WHO) and attending the World Health Assembly meetings dated on the 18th May. As stated by the two committees, the Beijing authorities handled the Wuhan Virus with political agenda and its failure to give regards to the public health concerns had brought catastrophic consequences to the world. Taiwan, on the other hand, has demonstrated to be a trustworthy partner whom China and the WHO suppressed. Their political influence is preventing Taiwan from engaging with the international community. In particular, it is highlighted that the member states of the United Nations should support Taiwan in attending the subsequent General Assemblies with the status of an observer.

The United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission, in its latest report, alleged that China had utilized its influence in the WHO to expel Taiwan's participation. China had not only neglected the good-willed sharing of pandemic information but also threaten Taiwan with military exercises.

The Bureau of International Organization Affairs, under a larger campaign in rallying support for Taiwan's participation in the WHO, retaliated against Beijing on Twitter a few weeks ago, challenging China's unreasonable oppression over Taiwan. President Trump, in alliance with Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Australia filed letters to Tedros Adhanom, the Director General of the World Health Organization in a request for the restoration of Taiwan's role as a WHA observer, in the aim of fostering cooperation between Taiwan and the international community. The United States' cooperation with Taiwan could be seen not only as a counteract over China's irresponsible covering up in light of the gravitating severity of the pandemic, as well as combating China in expanding its political sphere of influence by moving its chess pieces within various international organizations.

Taiwan once held the status of an observer, which was cancelled by the WHO in light of Chinese pressure when President Tsai Ing-wen was duly elected. Over the decade, Taiwan was granted attendance for fifty-seven WHAs out of a hundred and eighty applications. This brought significant difficulties in Taiwan's engagement in the global effort over pandemic control. In spite of the recurring oppression, the Taiwan government is not deterred and is still lobbying for its entry to these assemblies.

Taiwan had impressed the international community with world-leading pandemic responses. Including shutting down borders with little hesitation, the self sufficiently of masks and a responsive command center held confirmed cases to a minimum. As the tides have changed in favor of Taiwan and the free world, there is ever more initiative for us Hong Kong people to stand in solidarity with our friends from Taiwan.

In light of such, we are calling for your support in this petition to urge the 194 member states of the WHO to admit Taiwan as an observer in the WHA. We stand in resolution against the oppressive Chinese authoritarian regime and shall back Taiwan up in committing to global health issues.

 

Sunny Cheung | Spokesperson of Network DIPLO

 Joshua Wong | Secretary General of Demosisto