Joining the UN under the name "Taiwan"

Deputy Secretary-General Chen Chi-mai of the Office of the President announced at a press conference this afternoon that President Chen Shui-bian sent a letter on behalf of Taiwan's 23 million people to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to formally apply for UN membership under the name "Taiwan." Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yang Tzu-pao and Director-General David Y. L. Lin of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Department of International Organizations, were also present at the press conference.
Deputy Secretary-General Chen said that representatives of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York delivered the application for UN membership under the name "Taiwan," signed by President Chen, to the UN Secretariat at 11 p.m. on July 19, Taipei time (11 a.m. July 19, New York time). They were accompanied by representatives of Taiwan's diplomatic allies to the UN.
Deputy Secretary-General Chen explained that the government's adoption of a new approach to push for UN participation was prompted by the unsatisfactory outcome of the proposals submitted year after year since 1993 by Taiwan's diplomatic allies to the General Assembly requesting that it take measures to resolve the issue of UN participation for Taiwan's 23 million people. Clearly, such modest, rational appeals over the past 14 years have received no positive response from the UN, nor have they been accorded the international attention they deserve.
Deputy Secretary-General Chen further cited the following reasons behind the government's decision to apply for UN membership using the name "Taiwan": First, in accordance with the ideal of equality for mankind stipulated in the Preamble of the UN Charter, the 23 million people of Taiwan should enjoy the right to participate in the UN system on an equal footing.
Over the past 14 years, however, the UN has bowed to pressure from China and violated the organization's principle of universal membership, thus ignoring the basic human right of the people of Taiwan to participate in the UN and its system of specialized agencies. This has engendered growing indignation among the people of Taiwan, who have clearly indicated that the approach previously taken by the government to promote Taiwan's participation in the UN has failed to meet their expectations. They have requested the government, therefore, to adopt a new approach and apply directly for UN membership.
Second, according to a public opinion poll conducted by the Mainland Affairs Council of the Executive Yuan in April 2007, 77.3 percent of respondents supported joining international organizations, including the UN, under the name "Taiwan," demonstrating a strong popular consensus. In order to fulfill the public's hopes of comprehensively remedying Taiwan's inability to fully participate in the affairs of the international community, and to encourage the latter to recognize the basic human rights of Taiwan's 23 million people, the government has decided to submit an application for UN membership to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, signed by the President on behalf of the 23 million of Taiwan, in accordance with relevant UN regulations.
Third, Taiwan fully meets the criteria for applying for UN membership. Taiwan has the right to join, and must take strong action to join, the UN. The work of the specialized agencies of the UN system—which ranges from the conventional areas of economic and social development, culture, education, and public health to newer areas such as communications, environmental protection, human rights, prevention of drug abuse, and counterterrorism—has an important bearing on the lives and welfare of the people of Taiwan.
 For Taiwan to survive and develop in the current era of globalization, it is essential that it take part in the multilateral mechanisms of the UN system. Fourth, Taiwan is the world's 18th-largest economy, 16th-largest trading nation, and 7th-largest exporter of investment capital. In addition, Taiwan's achievements in the fields of democratic development, social systems, medical care, science and technology, academics, and culture have earned it global recognition.
Deputy Secretary-General Chen emphasized that Taiwan is a sovereign, independent country. Neither Taiwan nor China is subject to the other's jurisdiction. Moreover, Taiwan has never been a part of China. This is the fact of the matter, and it is the status quo. The government must respond to China's boycotting, suppression, and obstructionism by doing its utmost to safeguard Taiwan's sovereignty, dignity, and security.
In closing, Deputy Secretary-General Chen stressed that, despite the difficulty of applying for UN membership given the current international climate, having now taken the all-important first step, it is hoped that the voice of Taiwan's people and their desire to join the UN will be heard in countries around the world which, like Taiwan, hold sacred democracy, freedom, and human rights. Only when Taiwan becomes a UN member will it be able to enjoy the right to participate in international affairs on an equal footing with other countries.

http://www.president.gov.tw/en/