Q: It is understood that a few countries including Kiribati submitted a proposal of "inviting Taiwan to join the World Health Assembly as an observer", which they would like to append to this year's WHA agenda. Do you have any comment?

A: According to the WHO Constitution and WHA Rules of Procedure, Taiwan is not qualified to join the WHO or the WHA even as an observer. The attempt of the Chen Shuibian Authorities to make the health issue part of its "Taiwan Independence" activities by encouraging some countries to bring up the Taiwan-related proposal is doomed to failure.