The International Crisis Group (ICG) is intending to change the name of Taiwan's "representation" in the organization in order to secure China's participation in its activities, President Chen Shui-bian (
"To our great regret, I've learned that the ICG has planned to invite China to join the organization and suggested that we change the name of our representation," Chen said. "Such a move is unfair to us as we are a long-term partaker in and major contributor to the organization."
Chen made the remarks while receiving members of the Belgian parliament at the Presidential Office yesterday morning.
ICG describes itself as "an independent, non-profit and non-governmental organization, with over 110 staff members on five continents, working through field-based analysis and high-level advocacy to prevent and resolve deadly conflict."
It currently refers to Taiwan on its Web site as the Republic of China (Taiwan) in its list of government funders.
In addition to inviting Beijing to work with the group, Chen said that the ICG plans to establish an office in Beijing.
Chen asked Belgian parliamentary member Alain Destexhe, who once served as a director of ICG, to voice concern over the issue in a bid to prevent Taiwan from being "mistreated" or excluded from the group.
David Wang (
"The problem is why do we have to suffer such indignities simply because China wants to join the body?" he said. "We sincerely hope that the organization will remain objective and neutral and not become a pawn of Beijing because the organization is set up to help defuse conflict, not create conflict."
Of potential embarrassment for the government is the fact that Minister of Foreign Affairs James Huang (
He is currently visiting Chad and was unavailable for comment.
Wang said that it was his understanding that the ICG had asked Taiwan to assign in Huang's place someone who is not an incumbent government official (a practice followed by other countries).
ICG is expecting a name from Taiwan in July, he said.
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