Taipei Times: In view of the approaching UN General Assembly next month, the Taiwan United Nations Alliance (TAIUNA) has called on President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) administration to apply for UN membership under the name “Taiwan.” However, Minister of Foreign Affairs David Lee (李大維) has explicitly said that the government will not push for UN membership this year, but rather for the nation’s “meaningful contribution” to the UN and its affiliates. What are your thoughts on this?
William Luo (羅榮光): I would like to first of all state my approval of the government’s move to undertake transitional justice. As Taiwan transforms into a democracy from an autocratic state, we should also shine a light into the dark of the White Terror era under the authoritarian rule of Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石).
In the same vein, the appeal to have Taiwan join the UN falls within transitional justice.
Photo: Chen Chih-chu, Taipei Times
Think about it: Why is Taiwan being isolated and excluded from the UN? Such a misfortune was created by Chiang’s regime, who at the time [rejecting “dual representation” in the UN], said that “gentlemen cannot coexist with thugs” and insisted that the nation would “rather be a jade broken than an earthen tie intact.”
What Chiang meant was that despite his defeat in the Chinese Civil War and retreat to Taiwan, his Nationalist government was the “gentlemen,” whereas people over on the other side [of the Taiwan Strait] were “thugs” and that they, the People’s Republic of China (PRC), cannot represent China.
Although the US had been supportive of the Republic of China (ROC), the international situation shifted and more nations began to view the PRC as the legitimate government of China.
Finally on Oct. 25, 1971, the UN General Assembly passed Resolution 2758 in a two-thirds majority that recognized the PRC as the sole legal government of China, and stripped the Chiang regime of the right to represent the nation. The exact wording of the resolution is: “[The UN decides] to expel forthwith the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from the place which they unlawfully occupy at the UN and in all the organizations related to it.”
Since the PRC represents China, of course Taiwan should represent Taiwan.
Just as transitional justice is needed to address the 228 Massacre and the White Terror era, it should also address this part of history [concerning the UN], because it was Chiang’s decision that has made Taiwan an international orphan today. His decision then led to the expulsion of the ROC from the UN, and has dragged Taiwanese down for the past 45 years.
Very few people realize the severity of this, thinking only that killing is a serious matter, but not realizing that the nation has long been underrepresented in the international community.
TT: Given that Minister of Health and Welfare Lin Tzou-yien (林奏延) used the name “Chinese Taipei” rather than “Taiwan” throughout his speech at the World Health Assembly in May, and the decision not to push for UN membership this year, how is the Tsai administration different from former president Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) administration?
Luo: The reason we supported Tsai for the presidency is because we want change. Under Ma’s so-called “diplomatic truce” policy of the past eight years, there was no talk of the nation joining the UN.
By undertaking change, the new government can sharpen its image and demonstrate strength; it should bear in mind the meaning and expectations behind every vote that was cast in support of the DPP earlier this year.
I understand the government, being new in office, faces many challenges and difficulties, but it should make clear its direction and principles and state them out loud. It might want to use different methods to take part in and contribute to the UN and its affiliated organizations, but without stating the goal of seeking UN membership, such participation is made without recognition for Taiwan. It is like me taking part in a club and I pay my dues, but my name cannot appear on anything and nor do I have the right to vote. It is unfair, is it not?
Former DPP president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) was very supportive of our cause, which I found very gratifying.
The Chen government joined hands with the civic groups in the campaign; he held teleconferences with the UN’s correspondence club in New York, urging the international community to support Taiwan’s UN bid, and on July 19, 2007, he sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for membership in the international organization under the name “Taiwan.”
Ban rejected the letter, saying the position of the UN is that “Taiwan is part of China.”
However, Ban’s remark was met with objection from the US, who said that the UN policy on the status of Taiwan is not that Taiwan is part of the PRC.
[Chen sent a second letter to Ban on July 31, 2007, but it, too, was returned.]
Despite Ban’s rejection of Chen’s letters, the UN General Assembly, after Taiwan’s diplomatic allies submitted a motion requesting Taiwan’s membership application be processed, spent an afternoon debating the issue and was reported on by more than 2,000 media outlets worldwide. In other words, Taiwan was able to make itself heard.
I think it was Chen’s contribution to the cause that let the world know that Taiwan is not a member of the UN.
We hope the new government will have more guts.
TT: Do you think the new government, out of consideration for China’s reaction, is imposing restrictions on itself? Or do you think that the Tsai administration, drawing lessons from Chen’s administration — which was labeled a “troublemaker” for its outright support for Taiwan’s UN bid — is shying away from the campaign to avoid irritating the US or having the action interpreted by China as a provocation?
Luo: China will always oppose and block Taiwan’s UN bid, so how long are you going to wait?
We understand Tsai, being new in office, has her plate full with many things. However, I think the Tsai government should be inclusive of the civic groups’ movement and take note of the people’s voice. Whether to join the UN is not an issue for the government alone, but one that should reflect Taiwanese opinion.
Of course the US and China would not be happy about it. However, I must say, we cannot always listen to the US. Granted, Taiwan needs help from the US, but it does not mean that we have to comply with everything it says. Just as the US has its national interests to consider, so does Taiwan.
Taiwan is a sovereign nation and joining the UN is the nation exercising that sovereignty.
A survey recently published by the Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation showed 84.8 percent of people support Taiwan’s UN membership bid. In response to the question of whether they support the bid even if the US and China strongly oppose it, as many as 76.8 percent said “yes.”
Because Taiwan holds an important strategic position, its UN membership is conducive to world justice and peace, particularly in the Asian-Pacific region, especially in light of China’s recent actions, bolstering its military presence in the South China sea and the East China Sea.
The reason I stress justice here is because Ma often spoke of building a cross-strait peace bridge, but the truth is that behind the so-called “peace bridge” are more than 1,600 missiles aimed at Taiwan. So would you call it real peace or fake peace? It is fake peace built upon suppression.
Only when justice is addressed can there be real peace.
As for being a “troublemaker,” China is the true troublemaker, look at what it is doing in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, militarily, I might add.
How is Taiwan a “troublemaker” when all the nation wants is to be treated with respect? It is totally unjust to call Taiwan a “troublemaker” simply because it does not comply with what others want.
If Taiwan striving for respect is causing trouble, then so be it; now we just have to see how the new government demonstrates its willpower.
TT: The KMT has said that, if anything, the nation should apply for a “return” to the UN under its official name the “ROC,” saying the issue of UN membership under the name “Taiwan” is a pseudo-issue. What is your response?
Luo: People advocating UN membership under the name ROC and arguing that it is in line with the Constitution are lying.
The name “ROC” is simply out of the question, because UN Resolution 2758 clearly states that the ROC seat has already been replaced by the PRC.
For example, if I built Taipei 101 and I was its owner, but because I ran it poorly I had to sell it, could I still claim that Taipei 101 is mine?
The actual pseudo-issue here is talk of “returning” to the UN under the name “ROC.”
TT: As you have said, China, a permanent UN Security Council member, would certainly block any bid by Taiwan to join the UN. Taking into account issues relating to the nation’s constitutional system, some have come to describe the TAIUNA’s request as a pipe dream.
Luo: If I were a Chinese leader, I would observe what sort of strength Taiwan demonstrates. Are Taiwanese united behind the bid?
China’s blockade of Taiwan’s UN bid is of its peremptory nature; but Taiwanese should make its collective stance known.
That is why we hope the government will take action, such as writing a letter to the UN and asking our allies to propose motions on behalf of Taiwan. If the government does not take action, or drags its feet, it shows China that it is afraid.
As for the ROC Constitution, it is outdated; that is why we are also campaigning for name rectification and a new constitution.
We understand the path to joining the UN under the name “Taiwan” is hard, but we the people must push, especially when it is the right thing to do. If we do not start now, when are we going to do it?
The campaign for UN membership is like a marathon, you just need to keep running. Chen ran a short distance; Ma did not run at all. Now it is up to the new government to pick up and continue running. If we stop, Taiwan will have no voice and it will slide into oblivion.
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