Taiwanese in Canada march for Taiwan's inclusion in global organizations

Toronto, Aug. 31 (CNA) Nearly 200 Taiwanese in Canada marched at Toronto City Hall on Sunday to call for Taiwan's inclusion in the United Nations (U.N.) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), ahead of assemblies of both organizations in September.

The event was organized by the Chinese Community Centre of Ontario with support from members of Taiwan's Overseas Community Affairs Council. Escorted by eight Toronto police officers, participants chanted "U.N. for Taiwan" as they marched.

Among them was Richard Clough, who traveled from Waterloo with his family. He told CNA it was "really not fair" that "Taiwan has been shut out from the United Nations since 1972." Clough, whose wife is a former president of the K-W Taiwanese Canadian Association, said he has visited Taiwan three times and "loved it."

In a speech at the rally, Liang Yi-peng (梁毅鵬), director-general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Toronto, thanked participants and stressed Taiwan's case for U.N. membership.

He noted that in the past 80 years, including under UNGA Resolution 2758, Taiwan has never been recognized as part of the People's Republic of China. "It was not so in the past, it is not so now, nor will it ever be in the future," he said.

Turning to aviation, Liang pointed out that Taiwan serves as a key transit point in Asia, with about 70 percent of travelers flying from Toronto to Taiwan being foreign nationals.

He said Taiwan's participation in the ICAO is therefore vital to aviation safety in the region.

The 80th U.N. General Assembly is scheduled to open on Sept. 9, while the ICAO general assembly will be held on Sept. 23.