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Huang calls for more active quest for UN membership

Government Information Office Minister Shieh Jhy-wey explains why Taiwan's entry into the UN is legal during a speech addressing the inaugural meeting of a center for the research on Taiwan's UN entry yesterday. PHOTO: CNA

Taiwanese must be more proactive and speak with a louder voice for the nation's UN membership bid, Minister of Foreign Affairs James Huang (黃志芳) said yesterday.

No one talked about UN membership for more than 20 years after the Republic of China (ROC) withdrew from the organization in 1971, Huang said.

"Although the government has appealed [to the international community] for the nation's return to the UN, our applications continue to be rejected," Huang said.

"Taiwanese can no longer tolerate such isolation. We must play a more active role and tell the world that we're a sovereign state," he said.

Huang made the remarks during the launching ceremony of the Taiwan UN Research Center in Taipei. The center was commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Taiwan New Century Foundation.

Huang said that as a result of the government's different approach for this year's UN membership application, the international community has been "paying more attention than ever."

So far, 2,277 positive reports have appeared on the issue in the media around the world, Huang said.

"Gaining UN membership would best safeguard Taiwan's national security and peace between the two sides of Taiwan Strait," Twu Shiing-jer (涂醒哲), secretary-general of the UN for Taiwan Alliance, said in a speech.

A conference followed the ceremony, where participants discussed the name the country should use for its UN membership campaign.

Government Information Office Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Shieh Jhy-wey (謝志偉) said it was not possible to "return to the UN" under the ROC name.

"The Republic of China never withdrew from the UN. Rather, its seat was taken over by the People's Republic of China under Mao Zedong [毛澤東] and Chiang Kai-shek's [蔣介石] representatives were expelled," Shieh said, in reference to UN Resolution 2758.

"I always tell people that following its democratization, Taiwan is no longer a successor of the Chiang Kai-shek regime and therefore should apply for UN membership as a new member state," Shieh said.

Twu shared those views, adding that various polls had shown that more than 75 percent of Taiwanese support the nation's UN bid using the name "Taiwan."

"What the government is doing right now reflects the people's will," Twu said.
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