China flays US move at WHO status for Taiwan

Agence France Presse

Beijing, June 15:

China today slammed legislation signed by US President George W Bush that seeks to gain World Health Organisation (WHO) observer status for Taiwan, insisting the island had no right to join. "We express our strong opposition to the US side on signing into law this erroneous act," foreign ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said. "Taiwan is a part of China. According to relevant resolutions from the General Assembly of the UN, Taiwan has no right to become a member or an observer of WHO, or to participate in the activities of WHO."

Bush signed the legislation yesterday, but insisted that the United States policy supporting "one China" and opposing Taiwan independence remained unchanged.