Date：2023-09-27
Data Source：Department of International Organizations

September 27, 2023

No. 322

Taiwan’s continuing campaign to seek participation in the United Nations system has received greater international support than ever this year. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of China (Taiwan) sincerely thanks diplomatic allies, like-minded nations, and friends around the world for their firm support of Taiwan’s bid in various ways.

High-level government officials from diplomatic allies spoke up for Taiwan either directly or indirectly during the UN General Debate and high-level meetings. These allies included Guatemala, Paraguay, Palau, Eswatini, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Saint Lucia, Tuvalu, Haiti, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Christopher and Nevis, and Belize (listed in the order in which officials spoke). In his address at the UN General Debate, President Petr Pavel of the Czech Republic raised concern over the situation across the Taiwan Strait and condemned China for escalating regional tensions. At a meeting with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken again underscored the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamikawa Yoko issued a statement as chair of the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, which also included the High Representative of the European Union, reaffirming the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as indispensable to security and prosperity in the international community. The statement further reiterated support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations. In response to an interpellation by a member of parliament, Netherlands Minister of Foreign Affairs Hanke Bruins Slot also endorsed Taiwan’s international participation.

Parliamentarians of the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Hungary, the Republic of Ireland, Spain, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Brazil, and other countries expressed support for Taiwan through diverse channels, including laws, statements, questioning the executive branches of government, sending letters to the UN secretary-general, and posting messages on social media. The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China adopted the Prague Communiqué, which emphasized that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait serve the interests of all parties and called for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations and mechanisms.

For the first time, outstanding Taiwan Scholarship alumni from various countries also took the stage and backed Taiwan. Alumni from Spain, Estonia, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Guatemala, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Vietnam, and other nations sent letters to the UN secretary-general or media outlets in support of Taiwan’s UN campaign.

The Taipei Representative Office in Slovakia and GLOBSEC, a Slovak think tank, cohosted a seminar aimed at ensuring that various sectors across Europe had a correct understanding of UN General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758. Furthermore, academics from the United Kingdom, Poland, Greece, Denmark, and Italy, among other countries, published articles refuting China’s misrepresentation of the resolution and advocating Taiwan’s participation in the UN.

On the sidelines of the UNGA, President Tsai Ing-wen again addressed the 2023 Concordia Annual Summit via video at the invitation of New York-based nonprofit Concordia. In these prerecorded remarks to the UN community, she elaborated on the importance of Taiwan’s security and international participation to the global community. Minister of Health and Welfare Hsueh Jui-yuan and Minister of Digital Affairs Audrey Tang attended the summit in New York to share Taiwan’s successful experiences of its National Health Insurance program and digital democracy. In addition, Taiwan Representative to the US Amb. Hsiao Bi-khim spoke about peace and security across the Taiwan Strait and Taiwan’s UN participation campaign in a dialogue with Daniel Russel, former US Assistant Secretary of State and Vice President for International Security and Diplomacy at the Asia Society Policy Institute. At an international seminar held in New York during the UNGA with the United States, Japan, and Australia under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework, Taiwan discussed its efforts to realize the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the concrete accomplishments of Taiwan’s assistance to other countries.

MOFA appreciates the Legislative Yuan’s staunch support for the government’s bid for UN participation. A Legislative Yuan delegation comprising Legislators Chang Hung-lu, Lai Hsiang-ling, and Chen Jiau-hua traveled to New York to provide guidance, take part in campaign activities organized by local overseas compatriot communities, and convey the Taiwanese people’s commitment to participating in the UN system. They were joined by Legislator Tsai Shih-ying, convener of the Legislative Yuan Foreign and National Defense committee, and Legislators Chen Ting-fei, Chen Ming-wen, and Chen Ou-po, who were on a fact-finding mission to the United States and Canada.

The government has communicated Taiwan’s appeal for UN participation to countries worldwide via publicity campaigns and new media. An op-ed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Jaushieh Joseph Wu, articles and letters to the editor from Taiwan’s diplomatic missions, and interviews with Taiwanese ambassadors and representatives were published 468 times by prominent international media outlets. These included the National Interest and USA Today in the United States; the Telegraph and the Times in the United Kingdom; Le Formiche in Italy; the Hill Times in Canada; the Australian Financial Review; the Sankei Shimbun in Japan; the Chosun Ilbo in the Republic of Korea; the Statesman in India; and the Philippine Star. Two short films produced to promote Taiwan’s UN bid—To Equality and Global Peace with Taiwan—reached even more people, with more than 19.01 million and 12.91 million views online, respectively. A short animation video entitled UNited—Global Peace with Taiwan was shown on a large billboard at New York City’s landmark Times Square. Featuring Taiwan’s natural scenery and images of the island, it conveyed the Taiwanese people’s aspiration to work hand in hand with the rest of the world to preserve peace.

Participating in the UN system is the basic right and common aspiration of Taiwan’s 23 million people. The government of Taiwan will continue to pursue this goal. MOFA again urges the UN not to continue to succumb to pressure from China and misinterpret UNGA Resolution 2758. It also calls on the UN to proactively advance peace, stability, and security across the Taiwan Strait and in the region in order to uphold the UN principles of leaving no one behind and maintaining international peace and security.