November 5, 2007

Support Taiwan’s Application to the United Nations

The Taiwanese People Remain Unrepresented in the World Body

Dear Colleague:

            The people of Taiwan and their freely elected government continue to be ignored by the United Nations.  The world body continues to pretend that the unelected communist government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) truly represents the interests of the 23 million people living in Taiwan.

            Not only is this continued ignorance clearly counter to the lofty goals of the United Nations, it is also dangerous.  Because of Taiwan’s difficulties in gaining recognition with the world body, they have been excluded from many of the World Health Organization’s structures to prevent the international spread of disease.  Just recently, the PRC waited 10 days before sending along an important WHO alert.  Clearly, mainland China is not looking out for the health and welfare of those living in Taiwan.

            Taiwan is the only democratically-governed nation in the world who is not represented in the United Nations.  Taiwan is not asking to represent all of China in the UN or to control the Chinese seat on the Security Council.  It is only fitting that 23 million people who freely elect their own government should have one vote in the General Assembly of the United Nations.

            We, the democratically elected legislators of the United States should stand up for our counterparts in Taiwan.  Please consider cosponsoring the attached resolution which calls for our nation to work toward a proper recognition of Taiwan in the world body.  To cosponsor or for more information please contact my Legislative Assistant, Andrew Wimer, at (202) 225-4465 or andrew.wimer@mail.house.gov.
 

                                                            Sincerely,

                                                            Scott Garrett

                                                            Member of Congress

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Supporting Taiwan’s membership in appropriate

international organizations such as the United Nations.

Whereas Taiwan has dramatically improved its record on human rights and routinely holds fair and free elections in a multiparty system, as evidence by Taiwan’s second democratic presidential election in 2000 and 2004 in which Mr. Chen Shui-bian was elected as President;

Whereas the 23 million people on Taiwan are not represented in the United Nations and their human rights as citizens of the world are therefore severely abridged;

Whereas Taiwan has in recent years repeatedly expressed its strong desire to participate in the United Nations;

Whereas Taiwan has much to contribute to the work and funding of the United Nations;

Whereas the world community has reacted positively to Taiwan’s desire for international participation, as shown by Taiwan’s membership in the Asian Development Bank, Taiwan’s admission to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation group as a full member, and Taiwan’s accession as an observer to the General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade;

Whereas the United States has supported Taiwan’s participation in international organizations, in particular the World Health Organization; and

Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that—

1)      Taiwan and its 23 million people deserve membership in the United Nations;

2)      The United States should fulfill the commitment it made in the 1994 Taiwan Policy Review to more actively support Taiwan’s membership in appropriate international organizations.