Taiwan launches annual campaign for U.N. inclusion

Taipei, Sept. 1 (CNA) Taiwan's government on Tuesday launched its annual push for admission to the United Nations, accusing China of continuing to misinterpret a 1971 U.N. resolution to justify Taiwan's exclusion from the multilateral organization.

Since its departure in 1971, Taiwan, officially named the Republic of China (ROC), has conducted an annual campaign calling for its inclusion in the U.N. system and related specialized agencies during the U.N. General Assembly session.

At a news conference in Taipei, Vice Foreign Minister Ger Baushuan (葛保萱) said that U.N. Resolution 2758, which Beijing interprets as giving it the right to represent China, including Taiwan, does not mention Taiwan and only addresses the issue of China's representation.

Ger accused China of unilaterally altering the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region through military intimidation, cyberattacks, and economic coercion.

Meanwhile, Beijing's "Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law," passed in July, "severely undermines global freedom, democracy, and human rights" by utilizing domestic legislation to exercise "long-arm jurisdiction" and transnational repression, he said.

Despite such threats, Ger said Taiwan continues to uphold peace in the Taiwan Strait and defend national sovereignty, and will continue to "steadily and pragmatically" push for participation in international organizations.

Ger called on the U.N. to find ways to include Taiwan, so that the country can contribute to initiatives such as the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.

The 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly will open on Sept. 8, with the high-level General Debate running from Sept. 22 to Sept. 28, at the UN headquarters in New York City.

As in previous years, Ger said the government would ask U.N. ambassadors from countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Taipei to send a joint letter to U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres and speak up for Taiwan during the General Debate.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will also host events and conduct a promotional campaign in New York during the annual assembly to raise awareness of Taiwan's exclusion from the U.N. system, he added.