The leaders of three diplomatic allies — Guatemala, Paraguay and Palau — on Tuesday voiced support for Taiwan’s inclusion in the UN on the first day of the UN General Debate in New York.
In his address during the 78th UN General Assembly, Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr urged the UN and all parties involved in cross-strait issues to exercise restraint and seek a peaceful resolution.
“The well-being and prosperity of nations and their economies are intrinsically linked to global peace and stability,” he said.
Photo: AP
He also thanked partner nations such as Taiwan, Australia, Japan and the US for providing assistance and training opportunities to help Palauans upskill.
“We also advocate for change regarding the Republic of China, Taiwan, being unjustly excluded from UN systems, despite its remarkable leadership and innovative solutions,” he said, adding that the global organization should allow Taiwan to participate in crucially important agencies, because it has much to offer.
Citing the UN Charter, which affirms the equal rights of all people and nations, Whipps called on the UN to uphold that vision by allowing Taiwan to participate and contribute.
Photo: Reuters
Outgoing Guatemalan President Alejandro Eduardo Giammattei made a similar plea during his address.
He said that the UN should recognize the importance of “inclusivity and universality.”
“How can it be that in the 21st century, this organization has excluded a country like Taiwan? A country that contributes to science, technology, health and development; but yet we exclude its citizens from having a voice in this forum,” he said.
He urged the UN “to exhaust all measures that are necessary to guarantee international peace and security in the Taiwan Strait.”
Paraguayan President Santiago Pena, who assumed the presidency last month, expressed his government’s support of Taiwan as “an integral part of the United Nations system.”
Also on Tuesday, Czech President Petr Pavel, who is making his first appearance at the UN General Assembly since assuming office in March, criticized the People’s Republic of China (PRC) for its military maneuvers in the Taiwan Strait.
“We deplore China’s military actions which have raised tensions in the Taiwan Strait, as well as its unfriendly action against partners in the South China Sea. Any disputes or contentious issues must be solved peacefully. Any potential armed conflict in the region would have negative consequences on the whole world,” Pavel said.
It marks the second consecutive year a government representative from the Czech Republic has raised such concerns at the UN General Assembly.
Last year, a plea for cross-strait peace was made by Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Lipavsky.
The leaders of two more diplomatic allies, Eswatini and the Marshall Islands, were scheduled to make their addresses at the General Debate yesterday.
Taipei previously said that it had asked its 13 diplomatic allies, as well as like-minded nations, to voice support for its inclusion in the UN system, either by speaking up during the General Assembly or sending a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Several side events have also been launched by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York and a delegation of Taiwanese lawmakers visited the city to advocate for Taiwan’s inclusion in the UN.
Taiwan left the UN in 1971 and it has since been excluded from its special agencies.
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