Taiwan's 12th bid to enter the UN failed after the UN General Assembly decided on Wednesday not to include a proposal considering Taiwan's representation in the body in its agenda.
The proposal, entitled "The Question of the Representation of the 23 million people of Taiwan in the United Nations," submitted by 15 of Taiwan's allies, was discussed in the first General Committee meeting of the 59th session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday.
One hundred and fifteen countries spoke on the issue, with 21 of them speaking in Taiwan's favor. China mobilized 93 countries to speak against the proposal. Discussion on the issue lasted four hours.
After more than 90 speeches -- the vast majority against putting Taiwan on the assembly's agenda -- President Jean Ping of Gabon asked the assembly's General Committee if there were any objections to not including the issue for discussion in this year's General Assembly.
When none were voiced, he banged his gavel, and the request was rejected without a vote.
"At the first General Committee meeting this year, among all items considered, the one concerning Taiwan took the longest time to discuss, with the largest number of countries participating in a fervent debate," said Minister of Foreign Affairs Mark Chen (
Noting that the lengthy and heated discussion of the proposal demonstrates that Taiwan's bid continues to draw extensive international attention, the minister expressed deep regret that the proposal was rejected.
"However, we are not discouraged. We have done just what is right. The international community will eventually respond positively to our appeal for justice and peace," Chen said.
Last year, China mobilized a record-high number of countries, 104, to speak against Taiwan's bid, whereas 24 of Taiwan's allies spoke in favor of it.
This year, four of Taiwan's allies, Kiribati, Panama, Haiti and the Dominican Republic, did not speak for the proposal. The Holy See, an observer in the UN, does not have the capacity to speak in the General Assembly.
Kiribati, though a UN member, did not send a delegation to the assembly. New leaders just took over Haiti and Panama, and they are still forming new diplomatic policies, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"The US remained silent throughout the discussion. Big EU nations, such as France, Germany and the UK, opposed to our bid. However, the UK, though it spoke against the proposal, spent some time acclaiming Taiwan's democratic achievement," Chen said.
Panama's ambassador to Taiwan Jose Antonio Dominguez explained that his country did not speak on behalf of Taiwan because Panama's new ambassador to the UN is still building contacts.
"We will continue supporting Taiwan. We will continue strengthening the relationship between the two countries," he said.
The ministry said although China mobilized all its diplomatic resources, "many countries that do not share diplomatic ties with us expressed to us, in a private fashion, their sympathy and support.
President Chen Shui-bian (
Speaking at a banquet celebrating the 183rd anniversary of the Independence Day of Central America, hosted by embassies of Taiwan's allies Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Honduras, the president vowed Taiwan would try its best to be a responsible member in the international community.
"We will continue to do so with courage and determination," Chen said.
Also See Story:
Editorial: Taking steps toward a UN seat
BAIL APPEALS: The former vice premier was ordered to be held incommunicado despite twice being granted bail and paying a total of NT$12 million in bond The Taoyuan District Court yesterday ordered the detention of former vice premier Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦), who is being investigated for alleged corruption while serving as Taoyuan mayor from December 2014 to December 2022, and that he be held incommunicado. The court made the ruling during a bail hearing after prosecutors appealed its bail ruling twice. Cheng on Saturday was released after posting bail of NT$5 million (US$153,818). However, after prosecutors lodged an appeal, the High Court on Monday revoked the original ruling and ordered the Taoyuan District Court to hold another bail hearing. On Tuesday, the district court granted bail to Cheng a second
The Thai government on Friday announced that Taiwanese would be allowed to stay in the country for up to 60 days per entry, under the Southeast Asian country’s visa-free program starting from today. Taiwan is among 93 countries included in the Thai visa-waiver program, which has been expanded from 57 countries, with the visa-exempt entry extended from 30 to 60 days. After taking office last year, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has vowed to grant more visa waivers to foreign travelers as part of efforts to stimulate tourism. The expanded visa-waiver program was on Friday signed by Thai Minister of the Interior Anutin
PEACE AND SECURITY: China’s military ambitions present ‘the greatest strategic challenge to Japan and the world, Japan’s annual defense white paper said yesterday Japan yesterday warned that China risked escalating tensions with Taiwan with an increase in military exercises that appeared aimed in part at readying Beijing’s forces for a possible invasion. Japan’s annual assessment of security threats, including those posed by China, North Korea and Russia, comes as Taiwan closely monitors Chinese People’s Liberation Army air and sea exercises, including one with the Shandong aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean. The drills are the latest in a series including maneuvers in the Taiwan Strait last year that a senior US general said would be key to any invasion. “Because of that increase in military activity,
HAN KUANG: The exercises, which are to run from July 22 to 26, will feature unscripted war games and a decentralized command and control structure, military officers said The armed forces would for the first time test new rules of engagement (ROE) at this month’s annual Han Kuang exercises, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said yesterday. The exercises, which are to run from July 22 to 26, will feature unscripted war games, and a decentralized command and control structure, military officers told a news conference in Taipei. ROE cards would be issued to select combat troops to test their ability to function without tight control, they said. The most recent edition of the rules was published last year, they said. One of the cards’ two templates identifies enemy targets that soldiers