Freedom from Unjust Exclusion

Taiwan's Participation Will Realize the United Nations' Founding Ideals

Realizing the Principle of Universality

The United Nations, the world's most influential and inclusive international organization, was established in 1945 to promote world peace, protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, and enhance the welfare of all humanity through international cooperation and collective action. UN commitment to the principle of universality, for all peoples and all nations, is stated clearly in the Charter drawn up by the founding nations 60 years ago. Article 4 of the UN Charter warmly invites "all other peace-loving states" to join the organization. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's report for the United Nations' 60th anniversary celebrations, In Larger Freedom: Towards Development, Security and Human Rights for All, presents an agenda aimed at reinvigorating the organization and achieving the goals laid out in the Millennium Declaration. This report stresses the importance of advancing "the causes of security, development and human rights together" to achieve the goals, and that such advancements can only be realized with "broad, deep and sustained global cooperation among States." As the world faces the challenges and opportunities of the new century, the application of the principle of universality to embrace all countries and peoples of the world within the United Nations and, thereby, the advancement of important causes for all humanity through collective action, have taken on a new sense of urgency. While the vast majority of the earth's more than six billion people is duly represented, the 23 million people of Taiwan are ostracized from the UN family that emphasizes universality and humanism. Refusal to include Taiwan in the United Nations does not conform to the ideals of the UN Charter and other international human rights norms, nor is it conducive to the realization of UN goals that require the collective efforts of all nations, including Taiwan. The people and government of Taiwan feel compelled to seek redress for this unjust situation and, therefore, firmly request participation in the United Nations.

Taiwan: A Valuable Model and Willing Contributor in the Promotion of UN Ideals

With 23 million people (the 42nd largest population in the world) living on a land of nearly 36,000 sq. km. (roughly the size of the Netherlands), Taiwan, having made astonishing accomplishments in political reform and economic development over the past several decades, is a vibrant democracy with a robust economy. The people of Taiwan believe that these achievements, which were attained in line with UN ideals, should be sufficient to earn them a place in the world's most respected international organization.

The democratic process that began in the late 1980s and ended four decades of authoritarian rule in Taiwan led to a series of constitutional reforms making it possible for the people of Taiwan to directly elect their head of state since 1996. With Chen Shui-bian's election as president in 2000, the government's executive power was transferred peacefully from the Kuomintang (KMT) to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). This symbolized a great stride forward in Taiwan's march to becoming a mature democracy. This democratic momentum is sure to continue, producing positive changes in the new century. As President Chen Shui-bian stated in his 2004 reelection inaugural address, reforms will be pursued in various areas, ranging from the judicial system and Constitution to the financial infrastructure and governmental structure.

This experience of democratization has brought Taiwan an increased understanding of the importance of human rights protection, inspiring the government to return Taiwan to the international human rights order. Taiwan has pledged to abide by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and other important international legal mechanisms for human rights protection. Furthermore, Taiwan has helped found the Democratic Pacific Union, established the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy, and is establishing a National Human Rights Commission to promote democracy, human rights, freedom, and peace in accordance with principles set out by the United Nations.

Taiwan's economic development success story reveals how a nation and its people can employ collective wisdom and concerted efforts to shed dependence on foreign aid, emerge from poverty and, within five decades, excel as a global powerhouse in high technology. Today, Taiwan has a per capita GNP of US$14,032, is the world's 17th largest economy and 15th largest trading country, and has the third largest foreign exchange reserves. Taiwan also plays a substantial role in the global information technology (IT) industry. It is the fourth largest supplier of integrated circuits, and ranks first in the manufacture of 14 categories of IT products, ranging from IC foundries and mask ROMs to notebook PCs and DVDs. In addition, Taiwan consistently receives high marks for international competitiveness (see tables 1 & 2). While enjoying their hard-won economic prosperity, the people of Taiwan have been willing to share their experience of economic development with the world and have engaged in various foreign assistance and relief programs for many years. For example, as of March 2005, Taiwan had established 36 long-term technical missions in 30 partner countries to train and advise local residents in various fields, such as agriculture, fisheries, handicrafts, medicine, manufacturing, trade, and investment. In the aftermath of the South Asian tsunami of December 2004, Taiwan provided US$50 million in initial relief assistance and more than 355 tons of relief materials to tsunami-affected countries.

According to Kofi Annan's report, the solving of development, security, and human rights issues is an urgent task for all the world's nations. To respond to this call and fulfill related missions, the report noted: "The world needs strong and capable States, an effective partnership between civil society and the private sector, and agile and effective regional and global intergovernmental institutions to mobilize and coordinate collective action." With profound experiences and resources accrued through the progress of democratization, economic development, and protection of human rights, the people of Taiwan have demonstrated the ability and willingness to join the UN global network in collective endeavors to solve issues concerning the livelihood of all humanity. These issues, as enumerated in the report, include poverty, infectious disease, terrorism, regional conflicts, the use of force, human rights, and democracy.

Nevertheless, the right and aspiration of the people of Taiwan to participate in activities related to the United Nations and its affiliated agencies remain rebuffed. This is both unwise and unjust. Exclusion of Taiwan from the United Nations is detrimental in many aspects. Without proper representation in the United Nations, Taiwan cannot participate in UN-led international counter-terrorist activities, nor in epidemic prevention measures implemented by the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, as well as in other WHO-related activities. The absence of Taiwan from these important international mechanisms has resulted in critical loopholes in international collaboration to safeguard against terrorism, money laundering, and the spread of infectious diseases (most notably during the 2003 SARS outbreak), greatly compromising the effectiveness of these efforts, and even threatening the well-being of people in Taiwan and other countries.

Collective Action Needed to Enhance Cross-strait Peace and Stability

UN Resolution 2758, a product of the Cold War era, sought to resolve the debate surrounding representation of China in the United Nations. While successfully ensuring the representation of people on one side of the Taiwan Strait, however, it failed to address the rights of those living on the other.

After the People's Republic of China (PRC) was established in 1949, the government of the Republic of China (ROC) relocated to Taiwan. Since then, the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have been governed separately, with neither side having any jurisdiction over the other. From 1949 to 1971, the ROC was still a permanent member of the UN Security Council, and the question of the nature of PRC representation in the United Nations was debated. The General Assembly passed Resolution 2758 (XXVI) on October 25, 1971, giving the ROC seat to the PRC.

Resolution 2758 resolved the issue of PRC representation in the United Nations and its affiliated organizations without addressing Taiwan's representation. Even though it did not confer the right to represent the government and people of Taiwan on the PRC, the resolution has subsequently been misused to justify Taiwan's exclusion from the United Nations since 1971.

Since the Republic of China (Taiwan) is an independent and sovereign state with a government elected by the people, no other individual person or government can claim legitimately to represent the people of Taiwan. Only the people and government of Taiwan enjoy this right. Despite this fact, the People's Republic of China (China) has been aggressively promoting its unilateral "one China principle," arguing that Taiwan belongs to China and that China represents the people of Taiwan. Taiwan has tried to expose the fallacy of the "one China principle." Unfortunately, many countries have been coerced by China to follow its line. While unabashedly claiming to represent the people of Taiwan, China has continued to use strong-arm tactics. China has never looked after the welfare and rights of the people of Taiwan. Instead, the PRC has thwarted Taiwan's participation in the United Nations and other international organizations, and refused to renounce its threat to use force against Taiwan.

China's continuous increases in military expenditure and the number of missiles deployed against Taiwan over recent years have elevated tensions in the Taiwan Strait and posed a serious threat to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. Worst of all, the PRC National People's Congress enacted an "anti-separation law" (so-called "anti-secession law") in March 2005, emphasizing that, under specific circumstances, it will adopt "non-peaceful means and other necessary measures" to settle the disagreement between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. Adoption of this law is aimed undoubtedly at giving China a self-righteous excuse to use military force against Taiwan. Many countries, including the United States, Japan, and member states of the European Union, have expressed their grave concerns over this development and have urged the resumption of cross-strait dialogue.

The PRC's conduct is in clear conflict with the UN goal of maintaining peace and stability. The United Nations should pay close attention to this situation in order to safeguard the interests and rights of the citizens in all countries concerned. The UN Charter endows the organization with the responsibility to promote resolution of disputes through peaceful means. As a forum for global dialogue, the United Nations can play a positive and proactive role in promoting reconciliation and rapprochement between the ROC and the PRC. The United Nations and its specialized agencies can provide a multilateral forum for contacts on a wide range of issues.

To ease political tensions and maintain stability in the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan has repeatedly called for the resumption of cross-strait dialogue and has adopted a number of substantial goodwill measures to gradually normalize bilateral trade relations while awaiting reciprocal responses from China. President Chen Shui-bian further suggested in his inaugural speech of May 2004 that, through consultation, the two sides "establish a dynamic peace and stability framework for interactions." In his video conference with the international press corps in New York in September 2004, President Chen made it clear that Taiwan's inclusion in the United Nations can benefit regional security: "Should it accept Taiwan, the United Nations would certainly provide a most effective international monitoring mechanism for developing a framework of peace and stability between the two sides of the Strait." In contrast to the rigid mentality embedded in the "one China principle," allowing Taiwan to participate in the United Nations would have a positive significance with far-reaching and constructive influences on peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region.

        

Allowing Taiwan to Participate in the United Nations Represents True Observance and Realization of the UN Founding Ideals

For two decades, Taiwan's democratization has vested sovereignty in the people and strengthened national identity, affirming Taiwan's status as a free and democratic sovereign state. Taiwan's prosperity has enabled it to act as a valuable trade partner, and to contribute to the global economy and regional growth. As President Chen noted in his inaugural speech of May 2004, with its undeniable existence and indispensable role in the world, "Taiwan stands ready to continue in its role as an active participant in and contributor to international society-this is the right of Taiwan's 23 million people; likewise, it is our duty as citizens of the world community." The people of Taiwan sincerely hope, therefore, that the United Nations will stop ignoring their call for justice with regard to the lack of their UN representation. Taiwan stands willing and able to contribute to the good of all peoples.

In establishing the United Nations 60 years ago, the founding nations upheld certain sublime ideals and principles. Today, these still stand as the pillars that ensure this laudable organization's continued development in the new millennium. Inclusion of Taiwan in the United Nations will manifest the principle of universality, while advancing world peace and global cooperation. Without doubt, this is one thing that the United Nations cannot afford to postpone.

Table 1: Statistical Data
Table 2: Global Rankings