May 17, 2007

Taiwan: New Application to Join the United Nations


After another unsuccessful attempt to join the World Health Organization, President Chen Shui-bian has announced that the island will apply to join the United Nations under the name “Taiwan”.

After another unsuccessful attempt to join the World Health Organization, President Chen Shui-bian has announced that the island will apply to join the United Nations under the name “Taiwan”.

Below is an article published by EUX.tv:

Taipei - Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian, ignoring China's warning against Taipei's seeking independence or emphasizing its sovereignty, on Wednesday (16 May 2007) said his government will apply to rejoin the United Nations under the new title of Taiwan.

Chen, who has long been mulling changing Taiwan's tactic in rejoining international organizations, especially the UN, announced Taipei's decision while receiving Solomon Islands' Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.

"On May 14, Taiwan tried for the first time to apply to join the World Health Organization (WHO) under the name of Taiwan and failed. But it attracted world attention and debate. This is a very good start. In September, our country will apply to join the UN under the name of Taiwan. We hope the Solomon Islands can continue to give us support," Chen said, according to the presidential office statement.

   WHO rejected on Monday Taiwan's bid for membership on after Chinese officials accused the island of trying to strengthen its claim to sovereignty.

"The Taiwan authorities' attempt to use the health card as a way of seeking 'de jure Taiwan independence' will never succeed," said Jiang Yu, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman on Tuesday [15 May 2007].

China and Taiwan split in 1949, when the Republic of China (ROC) government lost the Chinese Civil War to the Communists and fled to Taiwan to set up its government-in-exile.

Communist China named itself the People's Republic of China (PRC) while the Chinese Nationalist government continued to call itself the ROC.

The ROC continued to hold China's seat in the UN until 1971, when the UN expelled Taiwan to accept mainland China. Taiwan was kicked out of all UN-affiliated organizations soon after.

In 1973, Taiwan launched an international campaign to seek observer status in the UN under the name of ROC, but has failed each year due to opposition from China and most UN members which recognize China.