US representatives support Taiwan UN bid

Taiwan possesses all the qualifications to become a UN member—it is not only a free, open and independent democracy, but also a good neighbor and friend to countries in need around the world.

Some US Congress members expressed their support for Taiwan's bid to gain membership in the UN ahead of a rally promoting the bid in New York.

In a letter to the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA), one of the rally's main organizers, US Representative Anthony Weiner said he deeply regretted that the UN continues to disregard Taiwan’s sovereignty and deny the right of self-determination to the Taiwanese.

"There is no question that the United States must stand strong and advocate Taiwan's independence from China and inclusion as a United Nations member state," Weiner stressed.

Representative Dana Rohrabacher said it was incongruous that the UN—founded on the principles of universality and self-determination—would exclude a free, democratic and independent nation whose population is larger than three-quarters of the UN' member states.

Rohrabacher emphasized that Taiwan possesses all the qualifications to become a UN member and ample resources to contribute to the UN.

Also writing to FAPA, US Representative Edolphus Towns said that Taiwan is not only a free, open and independent democracy, but also a good neighbor and friend to countries in need around the world.

Towns said Taiwan’s people, who have demonstrated they are responsible citizens of the world, deserve a voice and a seat at the UN.

Another Representative Robert Andrews said "China must recognize that Taiwan is neither rival nor vassal. Rather, it is a neighbor," Andrews said.

Taiwan has not been represented in the UN since 1971, when the Republic of China's UN seat was replaced by the People's Republic of China.

This year, Taiwan is bidding to join the world body under the name "Taiwan."
On July 19th, Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian sent a membership application letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon; however, the letter was returned on the grounds that the UN follows a "one China" policy.

Throwing their weight behind Taiwan, some of the country's diplomatic allies submitted a motion to the UN General Assembly last month, requesting that the Security Council process Taiwan's membership application according to established procedures, in the hope that the motion could be included as a supplementary item in the agenda of the 62nd regular session of the General Assembly set to open on September 18th.

(Excerpts from Taipei Times)