Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry has extended its thanks to the US and French legislatures after recent shows of support from both countries. On Wednesday, two US senators reintroduced a bipartisan bill calling for Taiwan to rejoin the World Health Organization as an observer. If it passes, it would require the US Secretary of State to “develop a strategy to regain observer status for Taiwan”.
Congress members in the US House of Representatives put forward an almost identical bill earlier this year. Members of the Committee on Foreign Relations will now scrutinize the proposed legislation.
The Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that it is grateful for American support. It says it will continue to monitor the progress of the legislation. It is also calling on the World Health Organization to begin making arrangements for Taiwan’s participation as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has refused to bow to pressure from China to cancel an upcoming visit to Taiwan. French lawmaker Alain Richard chairs the French Senate’s France-Taiwan friendship group, and plans to visit Taiwan this coming summer. After Richard received a letter from the Chinese ambassador to France calling on him to cancel the visit, the Foreign Ministry made its position clear. It says that legislators are free to plan and organize foreign visits.
Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry has extended a warm welcome to Richard. It also says the international community should stand up to interference and bullying by China.