NW Kentucky News

Reaffirms support for Taiwan’s inclusion in the World Health Organization

WASHINGTON — Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic Chairman Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) led an official visit to Taiwan, Cambodia, and Laos last week. Chairman Wenstrup met with senior political and public health leaders, visited high and low-risk laboratories, and observed multiple wet markets. As neighbors to China — the origin site of COVID-19 — and partners to the United States, Taiwan, Cambodia, and Laos each provide a unique perspective on lessons learned during the pandemic and ways to improve a future worldwide response to public health crises.

“Last week, my staff and I visited Taiwan, Cambodia, and Laos to examine current policies and defenses in place to protect American citizens from emerging infectious diseases. While I believe the COVID-19 pandemic was the result of a laboratory or research-related incident in China, it is vital that we work to block all potential pathways to human spillover — including both natural and laboratory incidents. Without improved mechanisms for overseeing these high-risk environments overseas, the world’s global health response to emerging threats is significantly impaired.

“While meeting with President Lai Ching-te in Taiwan, we discussed our shared experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and voiced our frustrations with the CCP and World Health Organization. Taiwan is an exemplary leader in global health and deserves a seat at the WHO’s table. As Chairman of this Select Subcommittee, I have seen firsthand the CCP’s suppression of information, lack of transparency, and disregard for freedom. I was proud to visit Taiwan and support their efforts to stand up against these assaults and chart a path forward for the good of democracy and public health worldwide,” said Chairman Wenstrup.

See below for a more detailed itinerary from Chairman Wenstrup’s official visit:

TAIWAN

Chairman Wenstrup met with Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te to discuss shared experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic — including Taiwan’s role as a leader in global health security and its relationship with the World Health Organization.

Chairman Wenstrup also met with Taiwan’s Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim.

He further engaged with Taiwan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tien Chung-kwang.

Additionally, he met with a leading epidemiologist from Academia Sinica to review Taiwan’s health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He joined meetings with the Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare and the Deputy Director of the Taiwan CDC to discuss Taiwan’s original detection of COVID-19 and its early warning to the world.

CAMBODIA

Chairman Wenstrup observed a team conducting surveillance for Avian Influenza at a traditional “wet market” in Phnom Penh.

He met with Cambodia’s Minister of Health Chheang Ra to discuss ongoing bilateral cooperation for increasing pandemic prevention preparedness.

He visited National Pediatric Hospital in Phnom Penh where a patient recently passed away due to Avian Influenza.

Additionally, he visited Institut Pasteur du Cambodge to discuss laboratory capacity across Cambodia and ongoing pandemic prevention research priorities in the region.

LAOS

Chairman Wenstrup observed a traditional “wet market” in Vientiane. Like Cambodia, surveillance testing supported by the United States aims at protecting against viral spillover from animals to humans.

He toured National Animal Health Lab in Vientiane.

Finally, he met with Minister of Health Dr. Bounfeng Phoummalaysith to discuss how Laos responded to COVID-19 pandemic efforts defending against future pandemics.