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Taiwan's U.N. bid unrelated to changing status quo: premier

ROC Central News Agency

2007-09-05 15:30:20

    Taipei, Sept. 5 (CNA) Premier Chang Chun-hsiung reiterated Wednesday that the country's bid to join the United Nations under the name "Taiwan" does not involve the question of changing the cross-Taiwan Strait status quo.

    Just like the country's inclusion in the World Trade Organization under the name "the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu" and its participation in the International Olympic Committee under the name "Chinese Taipei, " the U.N. bid is unrelated to the issue of changing the country's official name or Constitution, Chang said during a weekly Cabinet meeting.

    Chang said Taiwan, as a sovereign independent country, is fully eligible for membership in the United Nations, although some people believe that the government should push for the country's "return" to the world body under the name Republic of China, instead of seeking membership under the name Taiwan.

    According to Chang, the effort to push for the Republic of China's "return" to the United Nations would have no chance of success, because U.N. Resolution 2758 passed in 1971 made the People's Republic of China the sole representative of China in the world body.

    However, if the country applies to join the United Nations as a new member under the name Taiwan, the world body will have to screen the application, Chang said.

    President Chen Shui-bian sent a membership application letter on behalf of Taiwan to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon July 19, but the letter was returned based on Resolution 2758. Chen sent a second letter July 31 to the Ban urging him to reconsider his decision, but the letter was also returned.

    On Aug. 13, 15 of Taiwan's diplomatic allies submitted a motion to the General Assembly requesting that the Security Council process Taiwan's membership application according to established procedures, in the hope that the motion can be included on the agenda of the 62nd regular session of the General Assembly set to open Sept. 18 in New York.

(By Y.F. Low)

ENDITEM