Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Belize on Saturday called for Taiwan’s inclusion in international organizations during the UN General Debate in New York, bringing the number of countries supporting Taipei to 11, the same as last year.
“It is long overdue for the Republic of China (Taiwan) to be brought in from the diplomatic cold,” Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said in his address during the 78th UN General Assembly.
Chinese civilization “has delivered to the contemporary world, in practical terms, more than one recognizable national political expression, institutionally,” he added.
Photo: AP
The official transcript released by the UN included Taiwan’s population, GDP and world economic ranking, adding that the country is “in the top tier of producers of strategic inputs for information communications technology.”
“Surely, Taiwan’s quest for participation in relevant specialized agencies of the United Nations is reasonable and ought to be accommodated,” Gonsalves said.
Taiwan has repeatedly demonstrated that it is a responsible member of the international community, he said, adding that peace across the Taiwan Strait “is an imperative for the prosperity and security of the world.”
Photo: AP
Saint Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Terrance Drew said that Taiwan has proven to be a “reliable development partner, which greatly contributes to collective efforts to address the pressing global issues of today.”
He called for Taiwan’s inclusion in international institutions such as the UN and the World Health Assembly, which would enable the country to help advance shared goals and realize the right of 23 million Taiwanese to be adequately represented.
Belizean Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Immigration Eamon Courtenay said that excluding Taiwan from the international community “is inconsistent with the realities of today’s world.”
Photo: AFP
“Taiwan is a vibrant, democratic country with the willingness and capacity to contribute to addressing global challenges. Belize calls for Taiwan’s full inclusion in the international system,” he said.
During the first five days of the General Debate, 11 of Taiwan’s 13 diplomatic allies spoke out for the nation, calling for Taiwan’s inclusion in the UN system and international organizations.
Haiti was the only country that formally recognizes Taiwan but did not voice its support for the country, as it did last year.
Tomorrow the Holy See, also a diplomatic ally, is set to deliver its statement.
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin did not mention Taiwan in his address during last year’s General Debate.
People can preregister to receive their NT$10,000 (US$325) cash distributed from the central government on Nov. 5 after President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday signed the Special Budget for Strengthening Economic, Social and National Security Resilience, the Executive Yuan told a news conference last night. The special budget, passed by the Legislative Yuan on Friday last week with a cash handout budget of NT$236 billion, was officially submitted to the Executive Yuan and the Presidential Office yesterday afternoon. People can register through the official Web site at https://10000.gov.tw to have the funds deposited into their bank accounts, withdraw the funds at automated teller
PEACE AND STABILITY: Maintaining the cross-strait ‘status quo’ has long been the government’s position, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Taiwan is committed to maintaining the cross-strait “status quo” and seeks no escalation of tensions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said yesterday, rebutting a Time magazine opinion piece that described President William Lai (賴清德) as a “reckless leader.” The article, titled “The US Must Beware of Taiwan’s Reckless Leader,” was written by Lyle Goldstein, director of the Asia Program at the Washington-based Defense Priorities think tank. Goldstein wrote that Taiwan is “the world’s most dangerous flashpoint” amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He said that the situation in the Taiwan Strait has become less stable
CONCESSION: A Shin Kong official said that the firm was ‘willing to contribute’ to the nation, as the move would enable Nvidia Crop to build its headquarters in Taiwan Shin Kong Life Insurance Co (新光人壽) yesterday said it would relinquish land-use rights, or known as surface rights, for two plots in Taipei’s Beitou District (北投), paving the way for Nvidia Corp to expand its office footprint in Taiwan. The insurer said it made the decision “in the interest of the nation’s greater good” and would not seek compensation from taxpayers for potential future losses, calling the move a gesture to resolve a months-long impasse among the insurer, the Taipei City Government and the US chip giant. “The decision was made on the condition that the Taipei City Government reimburses the related
FRESH LOOK: A committee would gather expert and public input on the themes and visual motifs that would appear on the notes, the central bank governor said The central bank has launched a comprehensive redesign of New Taiwan dollar banknotes to enhance anti-counterfeiting measures, improve accessibility and align the bills with global sustainability standards, Governor Yang Chin-long (楊金龍) told a meeting of the legislature’s Finance Committee yesterday. The overhaul would affect all five denominations — NT$100, NT$200, NT$500, NT$1,000 and NT$2,000 notes — but not coins, Yang said. It would be the first major update to the banknotes in 24 years, as the current series, introduced in 2001, has remained in circulation amid rapid advances in printing technology and security standards. “Updating the notes is essential to safeguard the integrity
RSS