Taiwan-U.S. differences remain on U.N. issue: Taiwan representative
ROC Central News Agency
2007-09-26 18:21:05
Washington, Sept. 25 (CNA) Taipei and Washington remain divided over the issue of Taiwan's U.N. bid, although the United States has opted not to express its opinion on the issue at the ongoing annual session of the U.N. General Assembly, Taiwan's representative to the United States said Tuesday.
According to Joseph Wu, there are still a lot of opportunities for the United States to speak publicly about the issue, especially as President Chen Shui-bian is determined to go ahead with his plan to hold a referendum in March 2008 on applying to join the United Nations under the name Taiwan, despite U.S. opposition.
Wu said the U.S. silence at the United Nations is a "better result" than all the scenarios that Taiwan has anticipated, but he admitted that this does not mean Taiwan has made any major progress in its bid to join the United Nations.
Wu predicted that a lot more difficulties are expected ahead, mainly because China's diplomatic allies in the United Nations outnumber Taiwan's.
Taiwan has not been represented in the United Nations since 1971, when the Republic of China's U.N. seat was given to the People's Republic of China. While the country has tried without success to have the United Nations consider the issue of its representation since 1993, this year marks the first time it has applied under the name Taiwan.
The country suffered a fresh setback last week as an item endorsed by 16 of Taiwan's diplomatic allies asking the world body to address Taiwan's membership application was excluded from the agenda of the 62nd session of the General Assembly.
The United States does not support membership for Taiwan in international organizations where statehood is required and is also opposed to Taiwan's referendum plan on the grounds that it will increase cross-Taiwan Strait tension.
(By Michelle Tsai and Y.F. Low)
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