Taiwan applies for UN membership

BBC ^ | Friday, July 20, 2007.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Taiwan has submitted its first formal application to join the United Nations, a government spokesman has said.

He said an application signed by President Chen Shui-bian had been delivered to the UN Secretary General.

The Chinese foreign ministry immediately dismissed the move, saying it was "doomed to failure".

Taiwan has long campaigned to join the UN but all such attempts have been blocked by China which regards the island as a breakaway province.

The government in Taipei held the UN seat for China until 1971 when it was replaced by Beijing.

This was the first time the country launched a bid for UN membership using its own name rather than the official title "Republic of China" used in earlier attempts.

"We resolutely oppose it and will keep a close eye on the development of the issue," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao was quoted as telling Xinhua news agency.

"The Taiwan authorities' attempt to split China will absolutely not succeed," he added.

China has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan since nationalist armies fled the mainland following defeat in a civil war in 1949.

Taiwan is officially recognised by just 24 countries around the world.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Just a guess, but the PRC--which ousted the ROC to take China's place on the UN Security Council--probably won't allow this. Nor probably will the USA.

But given the recent spate of 'defections' from tiny countries which recognized the ROC changing their recognition to the PRC, Taiwan is more hard-pressed for the world to legally recognize its sovereignty.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

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[Jedi Master Pikachu]

At the time of posting, the title of this article on the BBC website was: “Taiwan applies for UN membership” .

[kabar]

You are correct about the US not supporting Taiwan’s bid to join the UN. It is against our “One-China” policy, which is a little different than the PRC’s “One-China” policy, but still precludes us from supporting Taiwan’t bid to join the UN.

[Maelstorm]

If the world was just Taiwan would be a member of the UN. What exactly is China going to do anyway? Taiwan is a free nation and the free world should not be beholden to the Chinese Polit Bureau. It amazes me how the world cowers at the rantings and demands of oppressive regimes. The response should be “grow up” not capitulation. Do what is right for a change instead of being held prisoner to the rhetoric of the oppressor nations.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

There’s also that the PRC is one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (the de facto leaders of the UN). Legally if the PRC opposes Taiwan’s membership, even if all the other countries (and the four other permanent Security Council members) agreed to give Taiwan membership, the PRC could veto it.

[chief_bigfoot]

How about if we let them have our seat, and the whole UN building to boot. As a taxpayer, I'd even be willing to chip in to pay to relocate the existing structure brick by brick.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

The United States should no longer be part of the UN.

But for Taiwan, this makes a lot of sense. They have to work to get recognized as an independent country, and UN membership is a HUGE way to realize that goal.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

We should give them our seat.

[mkjessup]

You are correct about the US not supporting Taiwan’s bid to join the UN. It is against our “One-China” policy, which is a little different than the PRC’s “One-China” policy, but still precludes us from supporting Taiwan’t bid to join the UN.

You mean our 'One Commie' policy, right?

While it was Richard Nixon who opened the door to Beijing (back when it was still 'Peking', as in duck), guess who sold out Taipei to 'seal the deal'?

You got it, the best friend of tyrants, commies and America-haters everywhere, the one, the only, Jimmy 'Mah Mama Wishes She Had Stayed A Virgin' Carter.

Yep, that one.

[EQAndyBuzz]

“Just a guess, but the PRC—which ousted the ROC to take China’s place on the UN Security Council—probably won’t allow this. Nor probably will the USA. “

I would think the US would either vote for it or abstain.

[EQAndyBuzz]

“How about if we let them have our seat, and the whole UN building to boot. As a taxpayer, I’d even be willing to chip in to pay to relocate the existing structure brick by brick. “

I want the UN moved to Gaza.

[JohnnyZ]

Mostly this is A-Bian trying to mark his place in history firmly on the independence side.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

President Chen could be trying to do that, but his political group platform is Taiwanese independence, so his trying to get other countries to recognize that independence is hardly self-building egotism on his part, in and of itself.

[JohnnyZ]

Oh, I support what he's been doing, with the 3 No's and 2 Yesses (? I lose track), and this, because at the very least it moves the political discussion significantly in the direction of independence.

When Chen was compromising more, there was really only the Independence Party who was supporting independence, the DPP stuck on status quo, while the KMT could drift further and further toward reunification, culminating in the Lien Chan/James Soong trips to kowtow to Beijing.