The 80th session of the UN General Assembly is to open on Tuesday next week. The first day of the high-level General Debate is to be held on Sept. 23. Important topics are to include a focus on the ongoing need for international cooperation to address global conflicts, inequality and health crises, all within the broader context of a world working toward a more peaceful, healthy and prosperous future.
Taiwan’s inclusion in the UN and other international organizations is important for the global community. Regrettably, although all 193 member states are represented in this unique forum, Taiwan is barred, even though it is one of the leading economies in the world and willing to cooperate on a wide array of international issues covered by the UN Charter.
Taiwanese have worked hard to accomplish remarkable economic, political and social changes over the past 70-plus years. Taipei has shared its success by providing economic aid to other Asian countries, as well as states in Latin America and Africa. Neglecting Taiwan’s population is a gross violation of the universality of membership principles of the UN.
Taiwanese deserve better. The UN should take immediate action to resolve the inappropriate exclusion of Taiwan’s 23 million people. Its discriminatory policy against Taiwanese passport holders and journalists violates their fundamental human rights and should be rectified.
Moreover, the UN should ensure that Taiwan has the right to participate in an equal and dignified manner in activities related to the implementation of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
China has been bullying Taiwan for many years. Although Taiwan enjoys de facto independence, China’s ultimate goal is to annex it. The US must not let that happen. As a dynamic and long-time US ally devoted to regional peace and stability, Taiwan is quietly carving out a role as a component of the region’s security architecture. The administration of US President Donald Trump must take a close look at Taiwan’s role within the region, and how it can cooperate on security matters and help strengthen the US’ regional leadership. Using Taiwan as a bargaining chip is no way to counter Beijing’s belligerence.
Bidding to participate in the UN system has never been easy. Despite the difficulty, years of hard work by Taiwanese civil society and the overseas Taiwanese community have led to increasing international support. If Trump really wants to get tough with China on trade, he should take advantage of the benefits Taiwan can offer. Unlike China, Taiwan has developed into an established democracy. It has a robust civil society with healthy and free independent media. Had Trump considered the remarkable achievements of Taiwan, he could have been in a better position to deal with Beijing.
Taiwan’s strong position in the world is underpinned by its thriving democracy, its economic prowess and its attractive social values. Furthermore, Taiwan has a permanent population, a defined territory and a democratically elected government, meeting all the criteria for statehood under the Montevideo Convention of 1934. It has never come under the jurisdiction of the People’s Republic of China.
The US should add its vote to those who believe Taiwan has earned a UN seat.
As the international community faces an unprecedented number of complex and global issues, it is critical for all stakeholders to help address these problems. Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the UN system is not a political issue, but a pragmatic one. It is time for Taiwan to be allowed to join the 80th session of the General Assembly.
Kent Wang is an advisory commissioner for the Overseas Community Affairs Council of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in the US and a research fellow at the Institute for Taiwan-America Studies.
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