The Government Information Office (GIO) yesterday said a videoconference between President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and the United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA) will be held outside the UN building in New York as a result of "China's obstruction."
"It seems as if the meeting will have to be held outside the building," GIO head Lin Chia-lung (
The videoconference was originally planned to take place in the association's clubroom inside UN headquarters.
Lin, who could not confirm the new venue, said China had pressured the UN into blocking Chen's videoconference, though it was not immediately clear how this was achieved.
"It shows how much China is lacking in confidence," Lin said.
The one-hour videoconference is expected to start at 10:30pm today Taiwan time.
UNCA president Anthony Jenkins had earlier insisted that the association would be firm in adhering to the principle of press freedom and would proceed with the meeting at UN headquarters despite Chinese and UN attempts to block it.
Jenkins earlier said that association members were prepared to defy the UN's attempt to block the meeting. It was not clear why this was no longer going to take place.
The UN secretariat said that the UNCA's plan to hold the videoconference inside the UN headquarters would violate the UN Resolution which recognized the People's Republic of China as the sole legitimate representative of China at the UN. It suggested that the association hold the teleconference somewhere else.
Anticipating obstruction from Beijing, Lin had earlier said it was highly possible that the teleconference would be forced to take place somewhere else.
The meeting will coincide with the introduction of a resolution by 26 countries that Taiwan's application to join the UN be put on the agenda.
Taiwan is launching its 12th bid to enter the UN as the 59th UN General Assembly commences its plenary session.
The third world congress of the Global Alliance for Democracy and Peace (GADP), an overseas Chinese organization, will be held on Sept. 14 in New York, the same day of the opening of the 59th regular session of the United Nations General Assembly, organizers said on Monday.
Taiwan's bid to join the UN is expected to become a key issue on the congress agenda, according to organizers.
Keynote speakers at the congress will include Jenkins and Mainland Affairs Council Chairman Joseph Wu (
Andrew Hsia (
Hsia called China the sole obstacle blocking Taiwan's participation in the international community, saying its relentless campaign to isolate the nation was clearly demonstrated of late.
He cited an incident in which stamp designs issued for the International Day of Peace by the UN Postal Administration excluded a painting by a Taiwanese finalist because the flag of the Republic of China appeared on it.
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