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UNITED NATIONS — Thirty years after being forced out of an organization it helped found and nurture, the Republic of China on Taiwan is still knocking on the doors of the United Nations for readmission to the world organization. And while the United Nations boasts near universality of its global membership, the 23 million people on Taiwan are crudely barred from participation by Beijing's political Great Wall.
In what has become an annual ritual, ten of Taipei's diplomatic allies requested the inclusion of an Agenda item for the current 56th General Assembly Session
calling for the "Need to examine the exceptional international situation pertaining to the Republic of China on Taiwan to ensure that the fundamental right of its twenty three million people to participate in the work and activities of the United Nations is fully respected." In other words--can we discuss this? Needless to say, Beijing said no, and blocked discussion.
While Taiwan fulfills the classic qualifications for sovereignty and UN membership, the fact remains that Taipei is being barred by Beijing who has held the Chinese seat since 1971. The People's Republic of China has no intention to compromise on an issue it views as a "separatist government."
Historically the Republic of China was a founder and a signatory of the UN Charter back in 1945--that was four years before Mao founded the People's Republic of China thus creating the "second China." Moreover while the civil war forced the Chinese Nationalists off the Mainland to refuge on the island of Taiwan, the formal government was not dissolved nor did it change its name. Legally speaking, the ROC state was not dissolved but diminished in size.
Nonetheless, during the recently concluded General Debate, twenty six of Taiwan's allies from Africa, the Caribbean, Central America and the Pacific raised the issue in the Assembly.
As has been traditional in the past, speakers called for Taiwan's readmission; Louis Straker, Foreign Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines stated, "The ROC's impressive record of economic and political development is one of the most persuasive reasons to eliminate the UN's sole exception to universality." He added, "Under our principle of universality, we cannot continue to exclude a country with such an impressive record of achievements."
Given that there are 189 UN member states, the organization boasts near universality, save for the Swiss who prefer not to join. Some of the members are politely stated, micro states with land masses and populations which are smaller than many American land grant universities. But this is not the issue.
Taiwan's population exceeds 140 of UN member states and the island boasts the world's 17th largest economy.
On the face of it one could argue that point--that no matter how politically unpleasant the Beijing regime is, they are the de facto rulers of Mainland China much as Kim Jong-il regime rules in North Korea. Yet China, like Germany in the past or Korea today remains a divided nation, a country artificially split into two separate political entities. This is a reality, which does not disappear just became Beijing in its bluster claims a proprietary title on the name "China."
Since the PRC claims to represent all China, and Taiwan has no formal political support from any permanent Security Council member such as the U.S., Taipei is particularly isolated.
While both West and East Germany were admitted to the UN in 1973 and South and North Korea followed in 1991, the People's Republic of China holds the ultimate card--its Security Council veto to new members. Bypassing Beijing's Great Wall in the Security Council, needs more than tactful application of Sun Tsu.
Recently, both the PRC and Taiwan were admitted separately to the World Trade Organization (WTO), an impressive political achievement for both Beijing and Taipei.
As Manasseh Sogavare, Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands added, "My government firmly believes that Taiwan's membership in the United Nations will effectively serve to facilitate peaceful dialogue between the two Chinas and provide a solid basis for a lasting reconciliation between them."
Ironically given Taiwan's economic success and vibrant democratic political system, Beijing is less inclined to compromise on Taiwan's UN readmission. The PRC obviously fears the model and example presented by its Chinese cousins on Taiwan and does not wish to bring it into the United Nations.
John J. Metzler is a U.N. correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues. He writes weekly for World Tribune.com.
