Ahead of the opening of the United Nations' 79th General Assembly Sept. 10 in New York City, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tien Chung-kwang held a press event Sept. 3 in Taipei City to detail Taiwan’s annual U.N. campaign.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the theme of the U.N.G.A. general debate, set to kick off Sept. 24, is “Leaving No One Behind: Acting Together for the Advancement of Peace, Sustainable Development and Human Dignity for Present and Future Generations.” Ironically, Taiwan’s 23.5 million people are still excluded from the global organization, it said.
The deputy minister said China’s distortion of U.N.G.A. Resolution 2758 continues to pose serious threats to the Taiwan Strait status quo and peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Tien urged the U.N. to take proactive action to address the issue.
Since the resolution does not exclude Taiwan’s U.N. participation, Tien called on the global organization to seek proper arrangements for Taiwan to take part in its activities, meetings and mechanisms, so that Taiwan can contribute to fulfilling U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.
Tien also said the U.N. Secretariat should adopt a neutral position and stop misusing the resolution to deprive the rights of Taiwan people and media to visit the U.N., take part in or cover its activities and meetings.
To canvass more global support for Taiwan, Tien said the government will continue to appeal to its allies’ permanent U.N. representatives to send joint letters to U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres and speak for Taiwan at related U.N. events.
Equally importantly, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung penned an article that has been published in various international mainstream media, highlighting how Taiwan’s U.N. inclusion could secure peace in the Indo-Pacific.
A short film entitled “IC You” was launched the same day to showcase Taiwan’s technology and semiconductor manufacturing prowess, emphasizing the country’s key role in global development. A number of sideline events will also be staged during the 79th assembly elucidating the case for Taiwan’s U.N. participation, the ministry said. (SFC-E)
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