Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu called on the UN to include Taiwan in an opinion piece titled “Taiwan ready and able to be a part of UN family” in London’s City AM on 16 September, the eve of the global body’s 74th general assembly. The minister stressed President Tsai’s message that Taiwan’s 23 million people have the right to participate in the UN system to which they remain cut off. The minister pointed out that although Taiwan, a full-fledged democracy, has made considerable progress in fulfilling UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it continues to be barred from participating in related meetings, mechanisms and activities due to political interference. Minister Wu stressed that this has seriously undermined the principle of partnership and the foundation of the SDGs, which requires the participation of all countries, stakeholders and people.
The foreign minister pointed out that the UN sits idly by whenever China seeks to impose its so-called “one China principle” on the global organisation. Minister Wu cited dozens of NGOs that were recently denied Consultative Status by the UN Economic and Social Council simply because a reference to Taiwan in their documents contradicted China’s demands, Taiwan passport holders remaining blocked from entering UN premises for public visits and meetings as well as Taiwanese journalists and media outlets being denied accreditation to cover UN meetings. “These practices are unjust and discriminatory, and contravene the principle of universality upon which the UN was founded,” the minister said. Minister Wu concluded that if the host of nations is serious about promoting inclusion and making development sustainable for all, it should open its doors to Taiwan.
