During the almost 12 years it took Taiwan to become a member, China attempted to insert language regarding sovereignty over Taiwan into official WTO application documents, Morland said.
"But it was dealt with at the time by the WTO," he said.
While hopes remain low that China will be willing any time soon to come to terms with Taiwan as a separate entity, WTO support of Taiwan's status as a full member on an equal footing with all other members -- on a truly global stage -- must feel good in Taipei.
"At last we can relax," said one Taiwan official in Doha last week. "After years of feeling like a second-class citizen with only observer status in the WTO, it feels good to be a member," he said.
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