U.S. Dept. of State - IIP: The United States and China

Texts: Lawmakers Back Taiwan's Effort to Return to United Nations
(Speeches made by Reps. Peter King and Gary Ackerman)

Representative Peter King (Republican of New York) and Representative Gary Ackerman (Democrat of New York) joined forces in urging support for Taiwan's efforts to be accepted in international organizations in September 6 speeches to the House of Representatives.

King and Ackerman, both members of the House International Relations Committee, made their speeches the same day Representative Robert Schaffer (Republican of Colorado) introduced House Concurrent Resolution 219 (H. Con. Res. 219), which would express the sense of Congress for U.S. policy to back Taiwan's membership in international organizations.

Taiwan is "prepared and able to actively support the endeavors of the United Nations," King said.

"Free and fair elections are held at all levels of government. Two years ago, Chen Shui-bian was the first President from the opposition party to be elected as Taiwan's president," King told colleagues.

Taiwan's constitution "guarantees its citizens freedom of assembly, expression and association, freedom of religion and freedom of the press," the New York Republican said.

Chen's administration, King went on, is committed "to upholding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights, and the Declaration and Action Program of the 1993 Vienna Conference on Human Rights."

Taiwan believes that its membership in the United Nations "would have a positive effect on peace and stability in the region," he continued.

The New York legislator cited the cases of East and West Germany, and North and South Korea, as examples of United Nations memberships enhancing stability.

"A number of countries have asked the United Nations to reconsider Taiwan for UN membership. Both Houses of the U.S. Congress, by large margins, have endorsed Taiwan's desire for participation in the United Nations. The time has come for Taiwan to officially enter the community of nations," King said.

Representative Ackerman, who sits on the East Asia and the Pacific subcommittee, noted that the U.S. Congress "has repeatedly recognized Taiwan's desire to broaden its participation in the international arena by adopting legislation supporting Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization."

The New York Democrat cited the aftermath of a 1999 earthquake in Taiwan as "a perfect example of why Taiwan should be allowed to participate."

"Unlike other disasters around the world, the United Nations delayed providing assistance to Taiwan until they got permission from China. If Taiwan had been a participant in the WHO, or better still, a member of the United Nations, no such delays would have occurred. Instead, thousands of Taiwanese suffered needlessly until the international community finally responded," Ackerman said.

"Unfortunately, despite Taiwan's desire to be a helpful global partner, Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations," he went on.

"It is time for the United Nations, on the principles of universality enshrined in the United Nations Charter, to acknowledge Taiwan's accomplishments and allow Taiwan to be a Member State," Ackerman said.

Following are the texts of the September 6 speeches by Representatives Peter King and Gary Ackerman from the Congressional Record:

SUPPORT OF TAIWAN'S BID TO
RE-ENTER THE UNITED NATIONS

HON. PETER T. KING
Extensions of Remarks
September 06, 2001

Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Taiwan's bid to re-enter the United Nations and the right of its 23 million citizens to have their voices heard in that world body.

Taiwan is an economic powerhouse--consistently ranking among the world's top economies over many years. Its GNP and population are larger than three quarters of the existing member countries of the UN. Taiwan holds approximately $100 billion in foreign exchange reserves. Significantly, it is the seventh largest trading partner to the United States.

Taiwan has used its economic resources to assist developing countries and contribute to international organizations.

Taiwan sent over 10,000 experts to train technicians in developing countries and has provided aid to countries in need including a generous aid package to Kosovo.

It understands the meaning of responsibility among the community of nations and is prepared and able to actively support the endeavors of the United Nations.

Taiwan is an openly democratic society. Free and fair elections are held at all levels of government. Two years ago, Chen Shui-bian was the first President from the opposition party to be elected as Taiwan's president. In addition, Taiwan's constitution guarantees its citizens freedom of assembly, expression and association, freedom of religion and freedom of the press.

President Chen has been a bulwark of support for human rights. He has committed Taiwan to upholding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights, and the Declaration and Action Program of the 1993 Vienna Conference on Human Rights.

Since his election, President Chen has continued to seek renewed political and commercial dialogue with the Chinese mainland. Taiwan believes that its membership in the United Nations would have a positive effect on peace and stability in the region. This belief is supported by such examples as East and West Germany, which were both members of the UN and by the membership of both North and South Korea, which have been seeking an improved relationship.

A number of countries have asked the United Nations to reconsider Taiwan for UN membership. Both Houses of the U.S. Congress, by large margins, have endorsed Taiwan's desire for participation in the United Nations. The time has come for Taiwan to officially enter the community of nations.

TAIWAN BELONGS IN THE UNITED NATIONS
HON. GARY L. ACKERMAN

Extensions of Remarks
September 06, 2001

HON. GARY L. ACKERMAN OF NEW YORK
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Thursday, September 6, 2001

Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, in 1996 Taiwan held the first-ever direct election for president and four years later, in the presidential election of 2000, opposition party candidate Chen Shui-bian won the presidential election. Miraculously, Taiwan had a peaceful transfer of power, and for the first time in fifty years, an opposition party replaced the ruling party. Today, Taiwan's democracy is in full bloom. Every political office is contested through free and fair elections, thus dispelling the myth that democracy and Asians don't mix.

Taiwan's rapid evolution into a full-fledged democracy with a capitalist free-market economy clearly signals that Taiwan is ready to play a larger role on the international stage. Already, Taiwan is a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and participates actively in the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the Inter-American Development Bank.

Congress has repeatedly recognized Taiwan's desire to broaden its participation in the international arena by adopting legislation supporting Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization. The aftermath of the 1999 earthquake is a perfect example of why Taiwan should be allowed to participate. Unlike other disasters around the world, the United Nations delayed providing assistance to Taiwan until they got permission from China. If Taiwan had been a participant in the WHO, or better still, a member of the United Nations, no such delays would have occurred. Instead, thousands of Taiwanese suffered needlessly until the international community finally responded.

After one year in office, President Chen Shui-bian has a solid record of achievement for his nation. Taiwan continues to seek resumption of dialogue with the Chinese mainland regarding eventual reunification. In addition, Taiwan has maintained a strong relationship with the United States and other friendly nations. Taiwan stands tall among nations and over the years has played a significant role in helping other nations develop. Taiwan has sent over 10,000 experts to train technicians in developing countries and has provided aid to many countries in need. It has given much to the world and the world community is enriched as a result.

Unfortunately, despite Taiwan's desire to be a helpful global partner, Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations. It is time for the United Nations, on the principles of universality enshrined in the United Nations Charter, to acknowledge Taiwan's accomplishments and allow Taiwan to be a Member State.

Mr. Speaker, Taiwan belongs in the United Nations. I personally support Taiwan's bid to return to the United Nations and I urge other members to do so as well.

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)