[Page: S16926]
Mr. SASSER. Mr. President, I rise today to bring to the attention of Senators an important contribution to the ongoing debate regarding Taiwan's desire to be represented in the United Nations. President Lee Teng-hui of the Republic of China on Taiwan has recently written an article, entitled `The ROC's Right to Participate in the United Nations,' in which he details the case for representation, noting Taiwan's formidable economic power and her progress in human rights and democracy. President Lee's argument for international support in Taiwan's bid for membership in the United Nations is worthy of our careful attention. I, therefore, ask permission that President Lee's article in the October 18, 1993, issue of Forbes magazine be printed in full in the Record.
There being no objection, the article was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows:
The ROC's Right to Participate in the United Nations
Twenty-two years have passed since the Republic of China (ROC) on Taiwan was deprived of its membership in the United Nations in 1971. Since then, many people have claimed that the issue of `China representation' has been resolved. But what about the 21 million Chinese of the Republic of China on Taiwan? Have they been abandoned by the United Nations? Though the Chinese Communist regime now controls the mainland and rules the 1.1 billion people there, it cannot represent the Chinese living in the islands of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu because it has never ruled these places. Neglecting this population and its government is a gross violation of the human rights and universality of membership principles which the United Nations upholds.
The current population and economic power of the Republic of China on Taiwan clearly qualify us for a place within the global context. Demographically, our population of 21 million is greater than that of two-thirds of the current U.N. member nations. In terms of economic performance and financial capability, the ROC has the second largest foreign exchange reserve holdings in the world, is the 14th largest trading nation, and ranks ninth in total overseas investment. These statistics represent an economic power to be reckoned with in the international economic system. Moreover, the ROC is fact approaching the world's advanced nations in the field of political democratization and also plays a constructive role in the promotion of humanitarian, economic and technical assistance to developing nations. Such activities contribute significantly to world peace and prosperity.
Formerly, East Germany and West Germany were both members of the United Nations; today, both North Korea and South Korea are seated in the world body. Now that Germany has become whole again, no one can say that parallel representation for a divided nation will hinder its reunification. If the United Nations can accommodate the wishes of the people in these two divided nations, why should it turn a deaf ear to the aspirations of the 21 million residents of the Republic of China on Taiwan? Until the Republic of China on Taiwan is given a seat, the U.N. cannot claim to be abiding by the principle of universality of membership enshrined in its charter.
Western nations have long praised the ROC's progress in human rights and democracy. Today, the people of the Republic of China on Taiwan have expressed, through the process of democratization, their strong longing for fair and just treatment on the world scene, including an equal opportunity of joining in international activities to reciprocate for the assistance she has received from other countries. We earnestly hope that all countries that cherish human rights, freedom, and democracy will support the Republic of China on Taiwan in her bid for membership in the United Nations. Let's work together for the cause of world peace and prosperity.
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