Nation should join UN using name `Taiwan'

Representatives of pro-Taiwan independence groups urged the government yesterday to use the name "Taiwan" when applying for membership in the UN.

Peter Wang (王獻極), executive director of the Alliance to Campaign for Rectifying the Name of Taiwan, said after meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Mark Chen (陳唐山) and some 20 repre-sentatives from his alliance and the United Nations Association of Taiwan, that there exists a larger opportunity for Taiwan to join the UN under the name "Taiwan," rather than the "Republic of China," although the task will be difficult.

Wang said that Taiwan will eventually join the world organization as long as the government has the determination to apply for membership with the name "Taiwan, " which he said has the support of all the people of Taiwan.

Joining the United Nations is a universal desire of the people of Taiwan, he said.

Taiwan began efforts in 1993 to re-enter the world body. Taiwan was forced to leave the UN in 1971 when the world organization decided to give China's seat to Beijing instead of Taipei.

The annual UN Assembly will be convened on Sep. 8 and the private groups promoting Tai-wan's UN bid will form a 300-people delegation to the US to campaign for Taiwan's international participation.

Chen yesterday responded to calls from the groups, saying that he "will endeavor to give the utmost efforts to realize this goal in compliance with the real-world situation."