Blinken, US Secretary of State, Urges Member States for Taiwan's Participation in the UN

"Excluding COVID-19 Prevention Model Country from WHO Is a Loss"
China Emphasizes 50th Anniversary of UN Membership as "The Only Legitimate Representative"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-woo] U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken's appeal to United Nations member states to support Taiwan's participation in the UN is expected to further escalate diplomatic tensions with China. The Chinese government, emphasizing the 50th anniversary of its UN membership, insists that it is the sole legitimate representative of the Chinese-speaking world in the UN and criticizes the U.S. efforts to reinstate Taiwan in the UN as hegemonism.

On the 26th (local time), Secretary Blinken issued a statement urging all UN member states, saying, "The United States strongly supports Taiwan's participation in the UN system and hopes for the support of other UN member states," calling for backing Taiwan's re-entry into the UN. Blinken emphasized, "Taiwan, which has demonstrated world-class COVID-19 prevention, is excluded from major World Health Organization (WHO) meetings such as the World Health Assembly (WHA), which is a significant loss for the international community," adding, "Taiwan's outstanding scientists and experts are restricted from UN activities simply because they hold Taiwanese passports."

The statement drew particular attention as it came shortly after a virtual forum on the 22nd attended by senior representatives from the U.S. and Taiwan, where the issue of expanding Taiwan's UN participation was raised. Following the forum, the U.S. State Department stated, "The focus was on Taiwan's participation in the UN to address international challenges such as health, environment, climate change, development aid, technical standards, and economic cooperation," and "especially mentioned commitments regarding Taiwan's meaningful participation in the WHO and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change."

However, China, which emphasizes the "One China" policy and asserts itself as the sole legitimate UN representative, strongly opposes these moves. On the 25th, Chinese President Xi Jinping, in a speech commemorating the 50th anniversary of China's UN membership, stated, "China was recognized as the only legitimate representative at the UN General Assembly 50 years ago," and expressed displeasure at the U.S. efforts for Taiwan's UN participation, saying, "We oppose any unilateral hegemonism by any country in the international community."

Meanwhile, Taiwan was originally a founding member of the UN but withdrew after the UN General Assembly recognized China as the sole member instead of Taiwan on October 25, 1971. The Chinese government has consistently opposed Taiwan's participation in the UN, arguing that it violates Article 4 of the UN Charter, which states that only sovereign states can be members.