This year, Taiwan will apply for UN membership for the ninth time. We strongly approve of the government and its ministries' and committees' relentless efforts to raise Taiwan's international status. If nothing unforeseen happens, however, this year, like previous years, will see Taiwan once again left standing outside the UN gates. The reason for this is not China's position within the organization, blocking all channels for Taiwan to participate in the international community. If the UN was merely the handmaiden of a single power, unable to uphold the fundamental justice of international society, then why would we work and strive so hard for membership?
The main reason that the efforts of the Republic of China to enter the UN fail repeatedly is a fundamental strategic mistake: the government has never applied for membership! The government repeatedly skirts the real issue.
For the last nine years, the government has asked friendly nations to call for the fundamental rights of Taiwan's 23 million citizens to participate in the UN at its annual General Assembly session, and to request the establishment of a commission to study the issue of UN representation for the Republic of China. Using this strategy to open up the doors of the UN is a bit like trying to wring water from a flint, and is doomed to failure.
First, the emphasis on the fundamental rights of Taiwan's 23 million people to participate in the UN is a logical mistake. The UN is an organization based on the fact that the nation state is the smallest unit eligible for membership. Only when a country is independent and sovereign, can it apply for membership. Territorial size or the size of a population do not constitute reasons for UN membership. If Taiwan seeks membership based on its population of 23 million, then does that logic not imply that China should have 55 seats in the world body?
Two, attempts to re-enter the UN under the name of the "Republic Of China" is simply a case of pure daydreaming. Resolution 2758 passed by the 26th General Assembly on Oct. 25, 1971 recognizes the government of the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate representative of China at the UN. Therefore, on that date, the Republic of China's status as a member state was fully supplanted by the People's Republic of China. Taiwanese government attempts to re-enter the UN under the name of the Republic of China, while claiming not to challenge the UN seat of the People's Republic of China, is not only a case of self-deceit, it is also utterly futile.
Three, Taiwan is asking friendly nations to seek the establishment of a special commission or committee to study the rights of the Republic of China on Taiwan to UN membership, hoping the international community will help shoulder the weight of China's protests and pressure.
This is wishful thinking. It may be both resounding and elegant, but it still is only wishful thinking. It is Taiwan that wants to join the UN, not the UN that absolutely needs Taiwan to join. Taiwan itself has never applied directly for membership, so why should the UN shoulder such burdens specifically for Taiwan? If one wants to enter someone else's home, but does not knock at the door and still expects to be asked in, one is not only mixing cause and effect, but is also indulging in the wildest of fantasies.
To sum up, it can be determined that if Taiwan wants to join the international community and be accepted into the UN, then it has to give up the strategy of re-entering under the name of the Republic of China. Instead "Taiwan" should be used, emphasizing its unity and its status as a sovereign nation, and UN membership should be squarely applied for in accordance with all existing procedures.
The Northern Taiwan Society, the Central Taiwan Society, and the Southern Taiwan Society herewith jointly call for all citizens of the nation to ask the government to apply for UN membership under the name of "Taiwan."
Admittedly, there is still a long road ahead of us before we can apply for UN membership under the name and status of "Taiwan." But as long as all of the nation's citizens can reach a consensus and work hard and in solidarity, the obstacles will eventually be removed and the goal will be achieved. We deeply believe that once we can get Taiwan together, we will be able to-get-her (the UN) to say yes.
Wu Shu-min, Chung Kun-ching, Tseng Kui-hai are Chairmen of the Northern Taiwan Society, Central Taiwan Society, and Southern Taiwan Society, respectively.
Translated by Perry Svensson
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