This year, the UN has entered its 60th year. UN members, including governments and NGOs, as well as many scholars, all agree that the organization needs a major overhaul in response to the new post-Cold War global environment, but there is little agreement as to the nature of this overhaul. In the middle of this month, national leaders will meet at a UN summit to discuss these reforms.
Although Taiwan was forced to withdraw from the UN in 1971, it will be present, and also play an active role in the summit. In fact, since 1993, through the agency of its diplomatic allies, Taiwan has sought to rejoin the UN and gain legitimate representation in the organization. This year is no exception. This year, Taiwan is trying a new strategy, and has asked its diplomatic allies to submit a proposal asking the UN to maintain "stable and peaceful relations across the Taiwan Strait." As one of the UN's missions is to "maintain international peace and security," the request that the UN play an active role in this regard is legitimate, reasonable and justified.
Since 2000, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has intensified its efforts to expand its arsenal. According to a Pentagon report on China's military power released in July, the country has over 700 missiles targeting Taiwan, and the the number is increasing by 75 to 120 missiles per year. Not only does China have the ability to invade Taiwan now, it also promulgated an "Anti-Secession" Law in March, which authorizes the PLA to employ "non-peaceful means and other necessary measures to protect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," legitimizing the use of force.
The draft resolution of this year's proposal contains three points. First, it urges both sides of the Taiwan Strait to use peaceful means to resolve disputes. Second, it requests that the UN's secretary-general appoint an envoy or a truth investigation committee to evaluate cross-strait security and report back to the UN General Assembly, the Security Council and other relevant agencies. Third, it requests that the UN secretary-general take necessary measures to encourage and help realize cross-strait dialogue and exchanges.
It echoes the agreement made at US-Japan Security Consultative Committee talks in February to view stability in the Taiwan Strait as a "common strategic objective," as well as to call on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to peacefully resolve disputes though dialogue.
This conforms to the stance of quite a few EU nations. It also challenges the UN's "conspiracy of silence" on the cross-strait issue, which is a violation of its charter. Also, the content of the proposal this year is somewhat unconventional because its intention is to transform the Taiwan Strait issue, claimed by China to be a domestic issue, and make it an international one. By doing so, it highlights the threat China poses to Taiwan.
China was obviously caught off guard by this move, and its delegation to the UN could only wheel out the "one China" principle and UN Resolution No. 2758 (which recognizes the representatives of the PRC as the only legitimate representatives of China), to oppose the proposal.
Taiwan's proposal is certainly innovative in emphasizing the UN's role as an international keeper of the peace, which will be a benchmark for reforms intended to improve the effectiveness of the UN. Taiwan needs this type of innovative thinking in its diplomatic battles. As the nation lobbies for support from member countries with proposals related to the UN charter, it is highlighting the need for the UN to show determination and effectiveness in the new century.
Parris Chang is the deputy secretary-general of the National Security Council.
TRANSLATED BY LIN YA-TI
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