Taiwan says it will continue push to join UNFCCC despite U.S. withdrawal

Taipei, Jan. 8 (CNA) Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Thursday said it will continue its decades-long push for Taiwan's inclusion in the United Nations climate negotiations, despite the United States' latest decision to withdraw from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

In a statement to CNA, MOFA said it has worked closely with the Ministry of Environment and the private sector to promote Taiwan's participation in UNFCCC meetings and mechanisms.

Those efforts have received strong support from friendly countries, the ministry said.

"Taiwan's goal of participating in the UNFCCC remains unchanged, and we will continue to seek support from allies and like-minded countries to push for the nation's meaningful participation," MOFA said.

MOFA made the remarks after CNA asked whether the U.S. decision to leave the UNFCCC would affect Taiwan's goal of joining the organization.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday (Washington time) signed a presidential memorandum directing federal departments and agencies to end participation in and funding for 31 United Nations entities and 35 non-U.N. organizations, most of them related to areas such as the environment, climate change and gender equality.

"President Trump is ending U.S. participation in international organizations that undermine America's independence and waste taxpayer dollars on ineffective or hostile agendas," the White House said in a statement.

Among the international bodies and agreements affected is the UNFCCC.

Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China, left the United Nations in 1971 when the People's Republic of China assumed China's seat. It has since been excluded from U.N. specialized agencies, including the UNFCCC.

Since 1995, Taiwanese officials have participated in UNFCCC conferences through the government-funded Industrial Technology Research Institute.