Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said in Beijing Tuesday that China firmly objects to the Taiwan-related proposal made by San Tome and Principe to 58th World Health Assembly (WHA).

The proposal, which suggests the WHA invite Taiwan to participate as an observer, was opposed by most of the 25 members

of the general committee and ruled out of the conference's provisional agenda.

"A very few countries take this opportunity to challenge the one-China policy and conduct secessionist activities," said Kong, adding that Taiwan is not qualified for the WHO's full or associate membership or an observer seat.

The WHO Constitution and Rules of Procedure of the WHA stipulate explicitly that WHO membership is open only to sovereign states, and only sovereign states and their overseas territories can attend the WHA as observers at the invitation of the WHO director general in some prescribed circumstances.

"Taiwan is neither of these cases," said Kong.

However, he acknowledged, the central government cares much for the health of Taiwan people. The frequent cross-strait exchanges in medical and health fields along the years has demonstrated that China can take care of all its people.

Some days ago, the Chinese Ministry of Health and the WHO signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Taiwan experts' technical exchanges with the WHO, according to which the WHO secretariat can invite medical and public health experts from Taiwan to participate in its technical activities, send staff or experts to Taiwan to study the health and epidemic situation there or provide medical and public health technical assistance.

Source: Xinhua