The Wall Street Journal has published an op-ed article by Denny Roy, a senior fellow at the East-West Center in Honolulu, calling for Taiwan to be admitted to international organizations.
“By any reasonable criteria, Taiwan, which is among the world’s 25 largest economies and a demonstrably good international citizen, should be a participant,” Roy wrote.
He says Beijing exhibits “petty and self-defeating” behavior, -exercising an effective veto to keep Taiwan out.”
It is part of the Chinese Communist Party’s strategy to deny Taiwan “international space” and pressure Taiwanese to politically unify with China, Roy said.
“Beijing has played such games for years, and it is long past time for a rethink both by Beijing and by the foreign governments who play along,” he said. “Recent improvements in cross-Strait relations should spur Beijing to ease its resistance.”
The attack on China’s tactics comes as the US House of Representatives is demanding action on legislation that would push China to let its currency appreciate.
“China’s Taiwan obstructionism is unfair to Taiwan’s 23 million inhabitants, who are innocent pawns in Beijing’s ploy to restrict Taiwan’s autonomy,” Roy wrote.
“The mainland is using low-level coercion against Taiwan’s people by making them international second-class citizens,” he wrote.
According to top US officials, the administration of US President Barack Obama is currently looking for ways to improve Taiwan’s chances of gaining entrance to international organizations.
Roy called for international pressure to help push Taiwan into the International Civil Aviation Organization and the UN Framework on Climate Change.
“The Chinese leadership should stop obstructing Taiwan from playing its natural and necessary role in meeting global challenges by joining international organizations focused on specific, practical issues,” he said.
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