US Representative Shelley Berkley has urged her colleagues to support Taiwan's bid to return to the UN, stressing that "granting Taiwan UN membership would be an important first step toward permanent peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait."
Addressing the House floor last Thursday, the congresswoman said a number of member states have renewed their request that the UN General Assembly reconsider "this legitimate and timely request."
"Taiwan is a vibrant multi-party democracy that serves as a beacon of hope to East Asia's population -- most of which lives under the tyranny of authoritarian regimes," Berkley noted.
"As the world's oldest and most enduring democracy, the United States has an obligation to voice its strong support for Taiwan's 23 million people to be represented in the United Nations," she stressed.
In just five decades, she said, Taiwan has transformed itself into an established democracy as well as one of East Asia's economic "tigers."
"Taiwan is a peace-loving country that embraces the core values of democracy -- liberty, justice, the rule of law and respect for basic human rights. Moreover, Taiwan is willing and able to carry out all UN Charter duties and obligations," the congresswoman continued.
With respect to China, she pointed out, Taiwan has repeatedly sought a peaceful settlement to the political issues of concern to both sides.
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