Some observers pointed out other utilities of Taiwan's UN bid including examination of Taiwan's diplomatic ties and a push for the private sector's involvement in non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
"By recording which diplomatic allies sponsor the proposal, and which took the floor to support us, Taiwan can use these objective indicators to review substantive ties with its allies," Lin Cheng-yi said.
Lin Bih-jaw said he has noticed that the government's UN bid has raised the public's awareness in taking part in international activities, thus enhancing NGO moves.
Even if only for domestic consumption, Taiwan's UN bid is expected to continue, foreign ministry officials admitted. "If we dropped the move all of a sudden, how would the public interpret it? Would that trigger suspicion that we've already abandoned our weapons and show the white flag? I don't think it'll happen," said a foreign ministry official.
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