COVID-19 – Global solidarity effectively ends pandemic: Taiwan

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Jaushieh Joseph Wu stated that in a declaration to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations (UN), the government and heads of state members agreed that only global solidarity could effectively end the COVID-19 pandemic.

Therefore, the U.N. is expected to be more inclusive and should not neglect any country, including Taiwan and any other parties, Minister Wu said in a statement from the Taipei Economic and Trade Office (TETO) received by Indonesia Window here on Monday.

However, Taiwan continues to be excluded from the U.N. organizational system, including in global efforts to deal with the pandemic even though so far Taiwan only recorded less than 500 cases of corona virus infection and only single digit deaths.

Taiwan’s elimination from the U.N.’s conferences, mechanisms and activities were due to political reasons related to China.

Minister Wu said the People’s Republic of China continued to pressure the United Nations to mistakenly use Resolution 2758 adopted by the U.N. General Assembly in 1971 as a legal basis to block Taiwan’s participation in the organization.

In fact, the resolution does not address the issue of Taiwan’s representation at the United Nations, nor does it mention that Taiwan is part of the People’s Republic of China, the TETO statement said.

Minister Wu insisted that Taiwan was never part of the People’s Republic of China.

The president and members of the Taiwan congress are directly elected by the Taiwanese people, which is completely different from the undemocratic China.

The United Nations must recognize that only the government elected through democratic procedures in Taiwan can represent the 23.5 million people of Taiwan, and the People’s Republic of China does not have the right to speak on Taiwan’s behalf, according to a TETO statement.

Minister Wu said preventing Taiwan from participating in the United Nations was a loss for the international community, and would hinder the efforts of UN member states to restore normal life after the pandemic as well as endeavours to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

If Taiwan can participate in UN-related activities, meetings and mechanisms, Taiwan will be able to make more contributions to the world.

Minister Wu stated that the ideals of safeguarding the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all people as stated in the UN Charter should not be empty words.

While the United Nations is on the lookout for the next 75 years, it is not too late to welcome Taiwan’s participation, he added.

Reporting by Indonesia Window