The Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign, independent country. The R.O.C. (Taiwan) and the People’s Republic of China are not subordinate to each other. Taiwan has undergone a process of democratization and is an internationally recognized, mature democracy. Only the popularly elected government of Taiwan has the right to represent the 23.5 million Taiwanese people in the international arena, including the United Nations system.
UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 (XXVI), adopted in 1971, only addresses the representation of China in the UN. It does not provide legal authorization for the PRC to represent Taiwan in the UN system, nor does it state that Taiwan is a part of the PRC. This resolution, therefore, does not resolve the issue of the Taiwanese people’s participation in the UN. In reality, the “one China principle” unilaterally advocated by the Chinese government represents a blatant attempt to annex Taiwan under the pretext of law.
The UN has long yielded to political pressure from China, regarding Taiwan as a part of China by wrongfully citing and erroneously interpreting Resolution 2758. It has taken severe measures to deny the Taiwanese people access to UN premises for tours and participation in meetings and activities, deprive Taiwanese journalists of newsgathering rights, and cut off all opportunities for the 23.5 million Taiwanese people to participate in the UN system. This illegitimate, unreasonable, and callous approach clearly violates the founding principle of universality espoused in the UN Charter.
China’s relentless intensification of its rhetorical assault and military intimidation against Taiwan has not only escalated tensions in cross-strait relations but also elicited serious global concern over regional peace and stability. Taiwan is committed to maintaining the status quo of stability across the Taiwan Strait and willing to resolve cross-strait differences through parity-based dialogue. However, it will absolutely not bow to China’s continuous attempts at malicious suppression.
The UN has repeatedly stressed that all stakeholders around the world need to work together to tackle challenges in the postpandemic era. Taiwan is willing and able to do its utmost to support global postpandemic recovery efforts and realize sustainable development. It is grateful to diplomatic allies and friendly nations for their support and assistance in its campaign to participate in the UN system. It also urges the UN to duly recognize the earnest aspirations of the Taiwanese people to be a part of the UN system, embrace Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the UN and its specialized agencies, and refrain from repeatedly capitulating to political pressure from China to exclude Taiwan.
