Overview:
At the UN General Assembly, President Surangel Whipps renewed Palau’s call to let Taiwan have a voice in the global body, accusing China of silencing 23 million people by blocking its participation. 🇵🇼🌏 #Palau #Taiwan #UNGA
By: Bernadette Carreon
President Surangel Whipps called anew the world leaders to include Taiwan in the United Nations activities, and by not doing so, China is silencing 23 million Taiwanese at the UN.
Speaking at the 80th session of the United Nations last week, Whipps also accused China of wrongly interpreting a 1971 resolution to silence 23 million Taiwanese people from the global body.
“China wrongly interpreted UNGA resolution 2758, and today it continues to claim that Taiwan is a part of the People’s Republic,” the Palauan leader told the assembly. “The end result has been that Taiwan’s been silenced — 23 million people, whose voices have been kept unheard.”
UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, passed in 1971, recognized the People’s Republic of China as “the only legitimate representative of China to the United Nations” and expelled representatives of Chiang Kai-shek.
However, Whipps said that Beijing has expanded this resolution beyond its original scope to block Taiwan from any UN participation, including technical agencies and observer status.
“Keeping Taiwan out of fully participating in the UN system and contributing to the world,” Whipps said weakens the international organization.
“Palau believes that inclusivity, which includes Taiwan, strengthens the United Nations, and that no community should be barred from contributing to the solutions of our world that it so desperately needs.”
Palau is one of only 12 countries that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
At the UN, Palau has been a regular voice advocating for Taiwan’s participation. Year after year, Palauan representatives have used their speaking time at the General Assembly to raise the Taiwan issue, often joined by other Pacific allies, including the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu.