The 56th General Assembly of the UN opened yesterday, but Taiwan remains excluded from it.
Taiwan is the only nation that wants to enter the UN but continues to be shut out. It is a great irony and, indeed, a stain on the UN's reputation that it excludes a democratic, free nation that values human rights.
As long as Taiwan is ex-cluded, the UN can never represent the whole of humanity. The earlier this abnormal and unfair situation is rectified, the better for the UN.
On Aug. 8, 10 UN member states who are diplomatic allies of Taiwan submitted to the UN Secretariat a proposal for Tai-wan's membership. The proposal does not break new ground. It urges the UN to "set up a working group to examine [the] exceptional international situation pertaining to the Republic of China on Taiwan," and ensure "the fundamental right of its 23 million people" to participate in the UN and its affiliated organizations. It also calls on the assembly to pay close attention to the cross-strait situation in order to encourage both sides of the Taiwan Strait to resume dialogue on equal footing through peaceful means.
One aspect worthy of applause is that the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York has for the first time extended its publicity campaign beyond the Chinese-language media. On Aug. 9, the cultural office invited the UN representatives from four of allies to explain their proposal at a press conference. The represen-tatives stressed that they supported Taiwan's participation in the UN not just on the basis of friendship, but also on a belief in justice and righteousness.
China's delegate to the UN also held a press conference denouncing the proposal, calling it interference in China's internal affairs. But Taiwan's bid should be decided by UN member states and must not be manipulated by China.
The campaign to promote Taiwan's entry into the UN cannot afford delays. Educational and lobbying efforts should be intensified both at home and abroad. This is a 365-day marathon, not just a yearly effort.
Chen Lung-chu is chairman of the board of the New Century Foundation.
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