US Congress resolution calls for UN seat for Taiwan

By William Lowther / Staff Reporter in WASHINGTON





US Representative Scott Garrett has introduced a resolution to the US Congress declaring that Taiwan deserves membership in the UN.

Garrett, a Republican, did so as the UN General Assembly opened its annual session in New York.

“Year after year, the UN has failed to offer the 23 million people of Taiwan and their freely elected government representation on the world stage,” Garrett said. “The world body can no longer act as if the unelected communist government of the People’s Republic of China truly represents the interests of Taiwan. Currently, Taiwan is the only democratically governed nation in the world that does not enjoy a single vote in the General Assembly.”

The resolution, expressing the “sense of Congress” that Taiwan should be admitted to the UN, was jointly sponsored by -Republicans Joe Barton, Mike Coffman, Dan Burton, Kenny Marchant, Sue Myrick, Billy Long and Democrat Heath Shuler.

Formosan Association for Public Affairs president Bob Yang (楊英育) said: “Taiwan continues to be excluded from the UN despite a vibrant democracy and significant contributions to the world.”

“As a result, it is unable to contribute its vast resources to global institutions, such as the World Health Organization, and is forced to enter international competitions under the name ‘Chinese Taipei’ even though the majority of Taiwan’s citizens consider themselves Taiwanese,” Yang said.

“The fact that this resolution is introduced on the same day the UN General Assembly opens its annual session is very symbolic and we want to remind the international community that Taiwan’s membership in the UN is not only beneficial to the people of Taiwan, but also to the rest of the world,” he said.