Taiwan and the United Nations

Lung-chu Chen

Taiwan has already taken tentative steps aimed at gaining admission to the UN, but more effort is needed for the dream to come true

Joining the UN is a common demand and wish of the people of Taiwan. In the past eight years, the government and people of Taiwan have begun to work toward achieving this goal. This year is the first year of the 21st century, and a good opportunity for the Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) government to adopt a new policy and new line of action. In the coming months of July and August, Taiwan's government should, in accordance with the stipulations of Article Four of the UN Charter, apply for admission as a new member to the UN, under the name "Taiwan."

A retrospective

Looking at the past, we very naturally think back to 51 years ago, the year when the issue of China's representation began to emerge at the UN. For every year between 1950 and 1971, this issue was considered and debated at the UN General Assembly. At that time, the Republic of China (ROC), represented by the Chiang Kai-shek (蔣中正) regime (which ruled Taiwan) was the sole legitimate representative of China to be recognized by the UN -- given the vehement support of the US.

In 1971, relations changed between the US and communist China, and between communist China and the USSR. The US began to play the China card, its intention being to use the People's Republic of China (PRC) to contain the USSR. That year also saw a significant change in the UN General Assembly, with several proposals being brought forth for discussion.

First, a group composed of Albania and some 22 other countries expressed their support for communist China, advocating that the PRC be allowed to enter the UN, and further, that the Chiang regime be expelled. This was the first proposal.

The second proposal was the "two Chinas" plan submitted by the US and others, calling for the PRC to enter the UN, but allowing the ROC to keep its seat. Additionally, there was the "one China, one Taiwan" proposal put forth by Saudi Arabia, which advocated that the PRC obtain the right to represent China in the UN -- including a seat on the Security Council -- but that Taiwan should stay in the UN under the name of "Taiwan." Further, in keeping with the principle of self-determination, and to respect the free will of the people of Taiwan, it was recommended that the UN conduct a plebiscite in Taiwan regarding its future. Saudi Arabia's representative to the UN thought that the "one China, one Taiwan" plan was a reasonable solution.

On Oct. 25, 1971, in an atmosphere of extreme tension, the UN General Assembly voted on Albania's proposal and passed Resolution No. 2758 by a two-thirds majority, effectively securing the PRC's entrance into the UN, and stripping the Chiang regime of the right to represent China. Thus, the PRC became China's sole legal government. Not only this, but other international organizations in the UN system one after another saw ROC replaced with PRC membership. Ironically, the Chiang regime at the time stressed a "gentlemen-won't-stand-together-with-thieves" policy and rejected co-existence with China in the UN. The outcome was that "only thieves stand, but not gentlemen." Today, facing the bullying and interference of communist China, the people of Taiwan hope that Taiwan can enter the UN. They have been busy researching and discussing how to go about it. All of this misfortune was created by the Chiang regime. Chiang completely neglected Taiwan's long-term interests, stubbornly rejecting the two Chinas and one China, one Taiwan proposals.

In sum, UN General Assembly Resolution No. 2758 recognized the PRC as the sole legal government of China, replacing the ROC. But this resolution only decided the question of the right to represent China, and not the issue of sovereignty over Taiwan. This resolution moreover constituted neither an explicit nor implicit recognition of the PRC's territorial claim over Taiwan.

Recent efforts

In 1971, after China took Taiwan's seat at the UN, Taiwan gradually became an international orphan, having no seat in the UN, and unable to participate in the different multi-functional international organizations within the UN system. Still, the hard work of the people of Taiwan at home and abroad produced an economic miracle and transformed the martial law and authoritarian rule of the past into a democratic system. Along with democratization and Taiwanization, the desire and demand of the people of Taiwan to be able to participate in the international community have grown stronger by the day. From this emerged the strong desire for Taiwan to join the UN. In response to the demands of the people, in 1993 Taiwan's government set about finding a way for Taiwan to join the UN.

Since 1993, through proposals submitted by Taiwan's diplomatic allies, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has hopes that the UN General Assembly would establish a special study committee to discuss the possibility of Taiwan's entry into the UN. Later, the General Assembly was requested to review and either abolish or revise Resolution No. 2758, passed in 1971, in the hope that this would pave the way for a so-called "parallel representation of a divided nation" model, in which Taiwan could enter the UN under the name "ROC" or "Republic of China on Taiwan."

In 1999 a proposal was made requesting that the General Assembly establish a working group to study the issue of Taiwan's entry into the UN. In the 2000 General Assembly, Taiwan's new government opted to temporarily continue using the 1999 policy model because it didn't have time to make a wholesale policy review.

However, under intense opposition from China, all discussions on the issue in the UN's General Committee have been killed during the past eight years, without even a chance of making it on to the General Assembly's formal agenda. Under such a strategy, Taiwan reacted passively to these sorts of events, merely going with the flow. Taiwan lacked a clear goal or demand, as well as effective support from an international publicity campaign. Many people in the international community simply did not know that Taiwan had been excluded from the UN.

Taiwan and UN need each other

Taiwan needs to join the UN for the following reasons:

First, the 23 million people of Taiwan are collectively entitled to participate in the UN in the same way individuals are entitled to basic human rights. The people of a nation have collective rights, and participating in UN affairs is just one of these rights.

Second, the UN and the international organizations within the UN system are currently the most basic arenas for members of the international community to interact. The UN has been charged with the duty of advancing both minimum and optimum world order. It is also an international diplomatic center for expressing opinions to all humankind. As soon as Taiwan enters the UN, it will receive the respect and participation that a sovereign state deserves. In addition, Taiwan will be able to enter the multi-functional international organizations within the UN system.

Third, Taiwan's being a member state of the UN is equivalent to its having the collective recognition of the international community. It would cause China's heavy-handed, groundless claim that Taiwan is a part of China to lose support in the international community, as well as increase the guarantees for Taiwan's national security. Under the UN's collective security system, military threats or aggression by China toward member-state Taiwan would certainly cause a strong international reaction like, for example, the UN's strong response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait.

On the flip side, the UN also needs Taiwan, for the following reasons:

First, if the UN intends to realize its basic principle of universal membership, and effectively achieve its goal of representation for all humankind, then it should allow Taiwan to join and give voice to the aspirations of Taiwan's 23 million people.

Second, the UN's major aims include resolving disputes through peaceful means, as well as the maintenance of international peace and security. When Taiwan is able to interact with China as an equal within the UN mechanisms, this will definitely help the UN promote preventive diplomacy in the Taiwan Strait, as well as peace in the Asia-Pacific region.

Third, as an economic power, Taiwan will certainly give all-out financial support for the UN's budgets and activities, and will share with other countries its experience in the area of economic development.

Fourth, in keeping with the trend of democratization in the post Cold-War world, Taiwan can share with UN member states the experience of its peaceful transformation from authoritarian rule to a free, democratic state.

Apply as member state

In July and August, in accordance with the stipulations of Article Four of the UN Charter, Taiwan should apply for membership in the UN as a new member state, using the name "Taiwan." The new policy represented by this recommendation differs from from past policy in several respects.

Taiwan's demands of the UN are clearly defined. As a peace-loving state, Taiwan will apply for becoming a new member state of the UN, using the name "Taiwan."

"What do you want?" is a question we are often asked. The present government's answer is perfectly clear: Taiwan wants to join the UN as a new member state -- not a return to the UN as the Republic of China. Resolution No. 2758 passed by the UN General Assembly in 1971 clearly recognized the PRC as the "sole legitimate government of China." The ROC completely lost any legitimacy in the UN system. During the period 1945 to 1971, when the ROC occupied the UN's China seat, it represented all of China, not Taiwan.

We should apply to the UN as a new member, using the name "Taiwan," and not under the category of "parallel representation of a divided nation" or one China, two seats. Similarly, we should not request that Resolution No. 2758 be abolished or revised -- the arguments for all of these merely cause confusion. In a long-term view, the international community can gradually accept and support Taiwan, but the ROC as such cannot work in the UN. Taiwan's MOFA has stressed that it has no set position with regard to the name Taiwan uses to join the UN and can be flexible on the issue. "Taiwan" was one of eight names considered in recent years. This year is an appropriate time to use the name "Taiwan" to apply for membership in the UN.

There are four special policy considerations in the proposal that Taiwan apply to the UN as a new member state.

First, the government of Taiwan should rid itself of the pressure of the one China principle by actively trying to enter the UN. This will be a pro-active response to China's one China principle offensive, allowing Taiwan to change from being passive to pro-active, and shifting the focus of attention away from cross-strait relations to the international arena of the UN.

Second, as an independent sovereign state, Taiwan must equally stress domestic affairs and foreign relations. The two are mutually complementary and both are indispensable. If Taiwan imposes external limitations on itself, it will be reduced to being a region of China.

Third, if Taiwan applies for membership in the UN as a new member state, will it provoke communist China? The PRC has opposed Taiwan's participation in the UN, whether by one China, one Taiwan, two Chinas, or any other method. Since this is how things are, if Taiwan wants to join the UN, it must do so openly, taking bold strides toward the correct goal of becoming a formal member state of the UN. Through perseverance, achievement will come gradually. Taiwan will be capable of overcoming China's veto in the Security Council eventually.

Fourth, if Taiwan applies to the UN as a new member state, it will highlight the fact that Taiwan is an independent sovereign state. If, however, it applies as an observer, there will be no way for Taiwan to show that it is sovereign and independent. Before we have exerted serious, sustained effort in pursuit of formal membership status, we cannot lightly accept the title of observer. The correct goal for us to pursue should be that of a formal member state, and not observer.

Fifth, joining the UN would be conducive to Taiwan's national security. Taiwan's national security not only needs advanced defensive weapons and psychological defenses, but also to break out of its isolation from international organizations. For Taiwan and the US, the collective force of international law, justice and opinions represented by the UN will be complementary to collective self-defense. As mentioned above, Taiwan and the UN need each other.

Take bold strides

We often hear that joining the UN is Taiwan's long-term goal. This long-term goal is one that we must strive to constantly pursue. It is not a goal to be put away for later, nor is it a sit and wait or go through the motions kind of goal. We need to think and act quickly, walk the walk, and be tireless in our pursuit.

Given Taiwan's present predicament in international diplomacy, entering the UN is a highly difficult project, and we can harbor no illusions. However, it is a lofty and worthy goal which, once attained -- or even in the process of fighting for it -- will have an extremely positive effect in terms of raising Taiwan's international status.

Today, as China tries to suppress Taiwan's space to survive and develop on the international stage, the predicament facing Taiwan's traditional diplomacy is clear to all. If we want to overcome the difficulties resulting from Beijing's isolation of Taiwan, then we must develop people's diplomacy and multilateral diplomacy, and consolidate Taiwan's strength both at home and abroad. The power of Taiwanese living in North America and elsewhere around the globe is also a force that can not be overlooked. Especially when these overseas compatriots share the same ideals and ideas as the government regarding the nation's general direction and policy, this power can have great effect.

Democratization and global governance based on the foundation of civil society are the major trends of today's world. Democratized Taiwan is going along with these trends. It must stand up, step forward, and demonstrate the power of its increasingly robust civil society, and actively make contributions to the world community.

Where there's a will, there's a way. The movement to enter the UN is a marathon for all the people of Taiwan in the new century.

Many people will say that Taiwan's bid to join the UN is an impossible dream. But with the concerted efforts of our government, business enterprises and the Taiwanese people at home and abroad, we can make our shared dream come true. With a sustained and united effort, we will achieve our goal in the end.

Chen Lung-chu (陳隆志) is chairman of the Taiwan New Century Foundation, president of the US-based New Century Institute and is a professor at New York Law School.