The government will not pursue UN membership and will instead continue to push for the nation’s meaningful participation at UN-related agencies, Minister of Foreign Affairs David Lee (李大維) said yesterday.
“With regard to the UN issue, the government will undoubtedly continue our meaningful participation [at UN-related organizations], but will not promote Taiwanese membership in the global body,” Lee said.
He made the remarks one day after Taiwan UN Alliance president Michael Tsai (蔡明憲) reportedly visited him to urge President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) administration to “toughen up and honor more than 80 percent of the public’s demand” that the government should strive to join the UN.
Michael Tsai reportedly told Lee that the government should refrain from constantly making compromises because of the “China factor,” as Beijing would only take more actions detrimental to Taipei.
Lin made a similar comment at a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee on June 8, amid reports that the government was interested in applying for UN membership.
The Republic of China (ROC), one of the founding members of the UN, exited the global body in 1971 when a UN resolution ruled that the People’s Republic of China was the only legitimate representative of China to it.
There have been periodic calls for the nation to join the UN under the name “Taiwan” or rejoin the body as the “ROC.”
Two referendums on seeking UN membership were held in March 2008, shortly after former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) left office, but both failed to meet the required 50 percent voter turnout.
A high-level official at the ministry, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that Taiwan’s bid to join the UN is a politically sensitive issue and requires careful consideration, as it could affect both cross-strait relations and ties with other nations.
“I believe President Tsai would approach the issue in a pragmatic and down-to-earth manner. Personally, I do not think that her final decision would negatively affect cross-strait ties, nor leave our important allies, particularly the US, in shock,” the official said.
However, since the issue is above the ministry’s pay grade, it is up to the highest level of government to make the final call, he said.
Presidential Office spokesman Alex Huang (黃重諺) said the president’s national security team has deliberated on the matter and laid out plans to improve Taiwan’s participation in international bodies, including UN-related agencies.
The renewed calls for application for UN membership has also sparked discussions among lawmakers across party lines.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Lo Chih-cheng (羅致政) said several changes have been made to Taiwan’s stance on the UN membership issue, including the name, status and manner of an application.
“Nevertheless, the administration will come up with a more well-thought-out stance before this year’s UN General Assembly begins next month,” Lo said, adding that Tsai Ing-wen’s purported plan to change from “participation” to “dedication” at UN-related organizations is expected to win acclaim from the international community.
DPP Legislator Gao Jyh-peng (高志鵬) said that as the ROC flag cannot represent the nation in the international arena, the government should change both the official title and national flag.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Johnny Chiang (江啟臣) said that as the public had witnessed the dismal outcomes of Chen’s UN endeavors, Tsai Ing-wen should introduce supplementary measures rather than simply “heating leftover rice.”
New Power Party caucus convener Hsu Yung-ming (徐永明) said that in light of an ongoing discussion in the international community that the appellation “Chinese Taipei” — under which the national team is competing at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and other sports events — can no longer represent Taiwan, the party would throw its support behind any bids for membership at the UN or the International Olympic Committee as “Taiwan.”
Additional reporting by Yang Chun-hui
ANNOUNCEMENT: People who do not comply with the ban after a spoken warning would be reported to the police, the airport company said on Friday Taoyuan International Airport Corp on Friday announced that riding on vehicles, including scooter-suitcases (also known as “scootcases”), bicycles, scooters and skateboards, is prohibited in the airport’s terminals. Those using such vehicles should manually pull them or place them on luggage trolleys, the company said in a Facebook post. The ban intends to maintain order and protect travelers’ safety, as the airport often sees large crowds of people, it said, adding that it has stepped up publicity for the regulation, and those who do not comply after a spoken warning would be reported to the police. The company yesterday said that
QUIET START: Nearly a week after applications opened, agencies did not announce or promote the program, nor did they explain how it differed from other visitor visas Taiwan has launched a six-month “digital nomad visitor visa” program for foreign nationals from its list of visa-exempt countries who meet financial eligibility criteria and provide proof of work contracts. To apply, foreign nationals must either provide proof that they have obtained a digital nomad visa issued by another country or demonstrate earnings based on age brackets, the Bureau of Consular Affairs said. Applicants aged 20 to 29 must show they earned an annual salary of at least US$20,000 or its equivalent in one of the past two years, while those aged 30 or older must provide proof they earned US$40,000 in
SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS: The suspects formed spy networks and paramilitary groups to kill government officials during a possible Chinese invasion, prosecutors said Prosecutors have indicted seven retired military officers, members of the Rehabilitation Alliance Party, for allegedly obtaining funds from China, and forming paramilitary groups and assassination squads in Taiwan to collaborate with Chinese troops in a possible war. The suspects contravened the National Security Act (國家安全法) by taking photos and drawing maps of key radar stations, missile installations and the American Institute in Taiwan’s headquarters in Taipei, prosecutors said. They allegedly prepared to collaborate with China during a possible invasion of Taiwan, prosecutors said. Retired military officer Chu Hung-i (屈宏義), 62, a Republic of China Army Academy graduate, went to China
UNITY MESSAGE: Rather than focusing on what Trump said on the campaign trail about Taiwan, Taipei should be willing to engage with the US, Pompeo said Taiwan plays a key role in Washington’s model of deterrence against China, former US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said in a speech in Taipei yesterday. During US president-elect Donald Trump’s first term, “we had developed what we believe was a pretty effective model of deterrence against adversaries who wanted to undermine the set of rules and values that the people of Taiwan and the people of the US hold dear,” Pompeo said at a forum organized by the Formosa Republican Association. “Succeeding in continuing to build this model will not solely rest at the feet of president Trump and his team,
RSS