Three secret deals between Taiwan and North Korea have been exposed in succession recently. A ship leased by a Taiwan fishing magnate, Chen Shih-hsien, was found smuggling oil to North Korea in December. A Taiwan citizen surnamed Chiang was suspected of shipping coal from North Korea to Vietnam in January. Earlier this month, another Taiwan businessman surnamed Chuang was questioned on suspicion of transporting oil in the open seas to a North Korean buyer.



When the island was later accused of violating UN sanctions on Pyongyang, Taiwan-independence forces' response was quite naïve. They said Taiwan isn't a member of the UN and shoulders no responsibility to abide by UN resolutions.



China is one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council. China has an obligation to strictly enforce UN sanctions against North Korea. Naturally, as a part of China, Taiwan must abide by UN resolutions. This has been made clear in a recent report by independent UN monitors, who claimed they "investigated cases of ship-to-ship transfers of petroleum products in violation [of UN sanctions]... and found that the network behind these vessels is primarily based in Taiwan Province of China."



In other words, if Taiwan refuses to play by the rules, the Chinese mainland should teach it how.



Taiwan is a component of China. Beijing has its duty and capability to oversee its behavior on the global arena. If Taiwanese people get into trouble overseas, Chinese embassies and consulates will provide assistance without hesitation. Once the island makes false moves on the international stage, Beijing also has the right to execute its administrative authority against it as it would for any other province of China.



More military forces should be deployed from the mainland in relevant waters so as to monitor Taiwan ships and even board and inspect them in crucial areas when necessary. These measures can be made public to all Taiwan shipping companies, which should be required to cooperate.



Making excuses by saying it's not a member of the UN is virtually a disguised secessionist activity. Taiwan may well reflect as to why neither Washington nor Tokyo backed the island when it encountered issues with international organizations. Taiwan must understand that hoping to violate international rules by exploiting its geopolitical advantage is pure fantasy.



As for its hopes of participating in international affairs, David Tawei Lee, Taiwan's "foreign minister" once expressed the plain truth. Without Beijing's approval, it would be very difficult for the island to seek inclusion in international organizations.