Taipei scraps "Republic of China" to ask for UN seat as "Taiwan"
The decision was taken by the Taiwanese president after 14 membership bids failed. The General Assembly's General Committee has already turned down the latest request.
New York (AsiaNews/Agencies) The Taiwanese president yesterday said his island will seek to obtain recognition and a seat at the United Nations under the name "Taiwan" after being refused 14 times as the "Republic of China".
Chen Shui-bian however admitted the tactic was "unlikely" to be successful, saying he believed the request would be rejected again "for the same reason as other attempts have failed", that is, Beijing's influence.
From Taipei, Chen spoke about the matter by videoconference to a group of academics, supporters, and reporters meeting at a hotel in front of the Glass Palace. The president said: "It is clear that Taiwan's wish to join the United Nations under the name 'Taiwan' will be sabotaged by China."
The UN General Assembly's General Committee rejected Taiwan's request for membership on 12 September: the final decision will be taken by the 192 members of the Assembly, but it is highly unlikely they will reverse the Committee's verdict and the chances of Taiwan presenting another request next year seem improbable.
Chen said: "Applying to the UN as under the name 'Taiwan', as the island is commonly known, would give a clear signal: we do not want to go against the "one China" policy observed by most of the world. By setting aside the name 'Republic of China', we are making it clear that we have no interest in challenging Beijing's rule over mainland China."
The Communist government that has ruled China since 1949 regards Taiwan as a rebel province, where Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalist Party [Kuomintang] fled in exile after they were defeated by Mao Zedong's Red Army.
Taipei occupied a seat in the United Nations, holding the veto on the Security Council under the name of China until 1971, when the General Assembly voted to recognize Beijing and to oust Taiwan.
Since then, Beijing has used its influence to keep Taiwan out of the United Nations and most other international organizations. At the same time, mainland China has also hindered support by other nations for Taipei's efforts.
The "Republic-of-China-to-Taiwan" switch is just the latest move in Taiwan's bids to win international acceptance.
The World Health Organisation has refused membership to the island, which competes in the Olympics as "Chinese Taipei," and won admission to the World Trade Organisation as the "Taiwan Penghu Kinmen Matsu customs territory."
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11/09/2007
10/10/2023 20:21
