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Presidential Office shrugs off PRC’s snub of UN bid

By Ko Shu-Ling and Jenny W. Hsu
STAFF REPORTERS
Friday, Aug 29, 2008, Page 3

The Presidential Office vowed yesterday to continue to push cross-strait reconciliation and a “diplomatic truce” with Beijing, despite China’s opposition to the country’s UN bid.

Presidential Office spokesman Wang Yu-chih (王郁琦) said that the basic rights of the 23 million people of Taiwan who want to participate in international organizations and activities should be respected.

“It would help establish mutual trust, lower the chance of misunderstanding and prevent conflicts if both sides of the Taiwan Strait could jointly participate in international activities,” he said. “It will only help strengthen the peaceful development of both sides if our country could participate in international activities.”

Wang’s comment came in response to Beijing’s objection to Taiwan’s latest UN bid, when Chinese Ambassador to the UN Wang Guangya (王光亞) said Taiwan was not qualified to participate in the specialized organizations of UN.

Wang Yu-chih said that Wang Guangya’s comments were “expected” and the government would continue to push cross-strait reconciliation and a “diplomatic truce” with Beijing.

When asked by the Taipei Times what the administration would do if Beijing did not respond positively to Taiwan’s goodwill, Wang Yu-chih said Beijing had extended a lot of goodwill since Ma took office and the public should not interpret Wang’s comments as “ill will.”

“I would call it an isolated case that occurred as we push the policy of cross-strait reconciliation and a diplomatic truce,” the spokesman said, adding that similar situations occurred during the Boao Forum and the controversy surrounding Beijing’s reference to the country’s Olympic team.

He said the administration would continue to try to participate in international activities as long as such efforts did not violate the result of the two referendums held in tandem with the presidential election in March.

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) referendum proposed “joining” the UN under the name “Taiwan,” while the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) referendum suggested “rejoining” the UN under the name the “Republic of China.” Both referendums failed and the proposals cannot be put to a vote again for three years, according to the Referendum Law (公投法).

Wang Yu-chih said that all government policies, including foreign policy, were made according to the principles that Taiwan is put first and the people will benefit.

The strategy of the former DPP administration had proved ineffective, he said, and only if both sides extend goodwill to each other could Taiwan get somewhere in the international arena.

Meanwhile, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Vice Chairman Liu Teh-hsun (劉德勳) urged Beijing to take the wishes of the Taiwanese people to participate in international organizations seriously.

“The people of Taiwan have always wanted to expand their nation’s participation in international organizations with dignity,” Liu said. “We hope Beijing will pay attention to the political reality in the Taiwan Strait and change the approach it has adopted.”

If both sides of the Taiwan Strait could jointly participate in international organizations, Liu said, it would help establish mutual trust, smooth away differences, reduce unnecessary misunderstandings and prevent conflicts.

Liu urged both sides to negotiate on the principle of “mutual non-denial” and seek a balance for a win-win situation. He also called on both sides to engage in mutual assistance, cooperation and respect so they could contribute more to the international community and cross-strait development could march toward peace and prosperity.

In related news, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs rebuffed criticism that it had been “too weak” in responding to Beijing’s rejection of this year’s UN bid, saying the “diplomatic truce” proposed by President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) only pertains to the long standing tug-of-war with Beijing for allies.

Taiwan will never give up the fight for increased participation in international organizations, it said.

“We have always said that diplomatic truce means neither Taiwan nor China will steal away each other’s allies based on the mutual goodwill. But the government will never relax its efforts for more participation in international organizations,” ministry spokesman Henry Chen (陳銘政) said.

Last Monday, in a letter to the UN Secretariat, Beijing criticized Taiwan’s UN bid, saying the “Taiwan region” was not eligible to participate in the activities of specialized agencies under the global body because it was not a sovereign state.

This year, instead of seeking to become a member of the UN, the Ma administration decided to ask only for “meaningful participation” in the activities of UN auxiliary organizations.

On Wednesday the ministry said Beijing’s objection to the bid was “predictable.”

“We are not surprised that Beijing retained its usual stance, but unlike before, Beijing said the issue of Taiwan’s international space could be resolved through consultation,” Chen said.

However, he was reluctant to interpret Beijing’s offer to negotiate as an olive branch or a gesture of goodwill.

Some critics have called the ministry “weak” and “too soft” for not chastising Beijing over its claim that Taiwan is part of China in its official statement on Wednesday.

Chen said the ministry was being “pragmatic” in its long-term pursuit of increased international space.

Approached by reporters in the legislature yesterday, KMT Legislator Lin Yu-fang (林郁方), head of the Diplomacy and National Defense Committee, said China’s letter meant that both sides of the Strait were still testing each other’s bottom line.

“In the international arena, we should fight the fight when necessary,” he said.

He said Taiwan and China might work on negotiating a model similar to that of the APEC for Taiwan to gain participation in UN affiliated organizations, but he said Taiwan should never give up fighting for the rights it deserves.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY FLORA WANG


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