For peace, include Taiwan in U.N. system

Taiwan is an indispensable partner in global supply chains, producing more than 90% of the world’s high-end semiconductors. Moreover, half of the world’s seaborne trade passes through the Taiwan Strait, making it a key international waterway. Yet, even though Taiwan is committed to safeguarding the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait, China continues to intensify its aggressive actions against Taiwan.

In recent years, global leaders have used various occasions — including G7, EU, NATO and ASEAN meetings — to highlight the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. However, the United Nations (U.N.) has yet to take action to address the challenges posed by the PRC or to incorporate Taiwan into the U.N. system.

The first and most urgent task that the U.N. must address is to stop succumbing to the PRC’s pressure and refrain from distorting U.N. General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758 adopted in 1971. Contrary to the PRC’s false claims, U.N. Resolution 2758 neither states that Taiwan is part of the PRC nor ascribes to the PRC any right to represent Taiwan in the U.N. system. In other words, the resolution does not mention Taiwan and has nothing to do with Taiwan. By willfully misrepresenting Resolution 2758 with Beijing’s own “one China principle,” which differs from the U.S. “one China policy,” the PRC has relentlessly suppressed Taiwan’s legitimate right to meaningfully participate in the U.N. system.

Over decades, Taiwan has proven to be a responsible and reliable partner to the world. More recently, we have made significant contributions to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Embracing Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the U.N. system would be the UN’s best option for mitigating any potential regional crisis, maintaining peace and stability across the Strait and spurring global prosperity. For a better world, the U.N. system needs to include Taiwan now.

Lin Chia-lung, Minister of Foreign Affairs

ROC (Taiwan)