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DPP’s caucus whip pans Ma over new policy for UN

“If we don’t even insist on our name, then we can’t be considered a country. And if that’s the case, then we don’t need foreign relations.” — Chang Hwa-kuan, DPP legislative whip

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) deputy legislative caucus whip said yesterday that the government’s UN strategy had “broken the hearts of the Taiwanese people.”

Pan Meng-an (潘孟安) was referring to this year’s UN bid submitted to the UN Secretariat on Thursday by representatives of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the Solomon Islands, two of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies, at the request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The proposal marks a fresh approach by the government in pushing for UN entry for Taiwan since President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) assumed office on May 20.

The new proposal, submitted ahead of this year’s UN General Assembly meeting set to open on Sept. 16, is significant in that it does not mention the name Taiwan nor the entity of the Republic of China seeking to return to the world body.

The ministry said the proposal was based on the principles of “dignity, pragmatism and flexibility.”

Pan said that Ma’s proposed “diplomatic truce” with China was hypocritical, a sign of surrender and a downgrading of Taiwan’s status.

The proposal to the UN caters to “Ma’s stance of capitulation” and by omitting the name Taiwan, does not demonstrate the Taiwanese resolve to join the international community, Pan said.

Meanwhile, DPP legislative whip Chang Hwa-kuan (張花冠) said Taiwan’s sovereignty should be insisted upon at all times, regardless of the international situation.

Saying that membership in the UN gives a country “legitimacy,” Chang asked how the government can put forward a proposal that does not include the country’s name.

“If we don’t even insist on our name, then we can’t be considered a country. And if that’s the case, then we don’t need foreign relations,” he said, asking whether the government was planning to abolish the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and downgrade the government’s status to that of a local government.

DPP Legislator Chai Trong-rong (蔡同榮) said Ma’s recent downplaying of his status as president during his transit stop in the US was aimed at catering to China’s demands, adding that the president has acted like “he wants to be a model student of Beijing.”

The UN bid is the same in that it is based on a desire to avoid angering Beijing, Chai said, adding that the bid has “cheated the Taiwanese.”
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