How China ‘once again manipulated UN policy towards Taiwan’

As the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) convenes in New York, the global community has once again come together to address the many pressing issues facing the world today. This year’s General Debate, which began on September 24, focuses on the theme “Leaving No One Behind: Acting Together to Promote Peace, Sustainable Development and Human Dignity for Present and Future Generations”. Yet, in stark contradiction to these precious ideals and without any irony, 23.5 million Taiwanese citizens remain symbolically “left behind” by being systematically excluded from the UN system year after year. writes Ambassador Roy Chun Lee, representative of the Taipei Representative Office in the European Union and Belgium (photo).

This continued injustice stems primarily from China’s deliberate misrepresentation of UNGA Resolution 2758. Beginning decades ago and intensifying in recent months, Beijing has consistently conflated this resolution with its own “one China principle” and falsely claimed that the resolution reflects the global consensus that Taiwan is part of the People’s Republic China (PRC). Furthermore, China falsely claims that Resolution 2758 grants it the authority to represent Taiwan within the UN system.

You can easily find the Resolution online; Likewise, one will easily come to the conclusion that all these statements are objectively incorrect if one reads the very short resolution itself.

These unfair and manipulative tactics only serve to undermine Taiwan’s sovereignty and deny the Taiwanese people’s legitimate right to participate in global governance. Therefore, in response, the Taiwanese government has launched the 2024 Campaign for UN Participation, focusing on three critical issues:

1. Addressing the threat posed by China’s distortion of Resolution 2758 to regional stability in the Taiwan Strait and the broader Indo-Pacific.

2. To emphasize that Resolution 2758 does not preclude Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the UN system, which would enhance our ability to contribute to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

3. Call on the UN Secretariat to maintain neutrality, stop misquoting UNGA Resolution 2758, and allow Taiwanese nationals and journalists access to UN buildings for legitimate activities.

Above all, the global community must recognize that Resolution 2758 does not contain any rule regarding Taiwan as part of China, nor does it authorize the People’s Republic of China to represent Taiwan in the UN. Resolution 2758 does not even mention Taiwan at all.

Together with like-minded partners across the oceans, Taiwanese will continue to work diligently to combat this disinformation, which targets both Taiwan and the UN.

The UN Charter explicitly states that one of the primary objectives of the organization is to promote friendly relations between countries based on the principle of equal rights. However, the echo of China’s misinterpretation of UN Resolution 2758 directly contradicts this important and fundamental principle, and represents a failure to protect the integrity and key values ​​of the UN system.

The consequences of this misinformation extend far beyond values. As one of the world’s largest economies, Taiwan is excluded from key global processes such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This is despite the fact that it is a world leader in environmental protection and has implemented a range of ambitious climate policies. At COP28 in Dubai, Taiwan clearly demonstrated its commitment to climate action by announcing a $10 million contribution to the establishment of the Climate Transition Fund in partnership with four Pacific allies. As with many of today’s most pressing global issues, the threat of climate change knows no borders. Depriving the world of Taiwan’s expertise and experience hurts everyone.

Likewise, Taiwan’s absence from INTERPOL is creating a dangerous gap in global law enforcement efforts. Despite obstacles such as a lack of access to INTERPOL’s I-24/7 global police communications system and other related databases, Taiwan is fully committed to the fight against transnational crime. This exclusion not only threatens Taiwan’s security, but also endangers global security.

It is high time that the United Nations recognize that true global peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations can only be achieved through Taiwan’s full participation in the international community. The exclusion of 23.5 million people from global dialogue and decision-making processes not only harms the Taiwanese people, but also deprives the world of Taiwan’s valuable contributions and expertise.

As we face another UNGA meeting, the international community as a whole must take a serious look at Taiwan’s unjust exclusion and take concrete steps to address this long-standing problem. Only by allowing Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the UN system can the global body truly embody the spirit of “leaving no one behind” and collectively work toward the goals of achieving peace, sustainable development and human dignity for all.