UNITED NATIONS MUST OPEN ITS DOORS TO TAIWAN -- (BY THOMAS J. BELLOWS) (Extension of Remarks - November 16, 1993) --- HON. LAMAR S. SMITH in the House of Representatives TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1993
- Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to my colleagues' attention this guest editorial written by a constituent of mine, Prof. Thomas J. Bellows of the University of Texas at San Antonio. His article in support of admitting Taiwan to the United Nations was published on October 17, 1993, in my hometown newspaper, the San Antonio Express-News.
(BY THOMAS J. BELLOWS) Seven Central American countries, all of whom recognize the Republic of China on Taiwan, have sent a joint letter to the United Nations Secretary General urging that Taiwan be added to the roster of 184 countries that are U.N. members. The People's Republic of China vigorously opposed this proposal in an August White Paper, forcefully asserting that, since both Taipei and Beijing acknowledge but one China, having two entities represent different parts of China in the United Nations is unacceptable.
Political realism suggests that an entity of 21 million people, a major exporter and importer of goods, with foreign reserves nearing $100 billion (the highest in the world) and a per-person income higher than that of Greece, Ireland, Saudi Arabia or Portugal should not be excluded. The reality is also that Beijing will veto Taiwan's bid for admission.
The obvious and immediate solution is to approve Taiwan's becoming a permanent non-member state. This requires only the approval of the General Assembly and does not involve a Security Council vote or the probability of Peoples Republic veto. This designation routinely allows members to speak at all meetings (by invitation that is always extended) and to participate fully and extensively in informal discussions. Historically, permanent non-member states are assessed percentage contributions to the U.N. activities in which they participate.
There is an institutional history of divided nations represented by two governments invited as permanent non-member states, prior to full admission. East and West Germany and North and South Korea are examples that became full members in a few years. Other countries, such as Austria and Italy, were permanent non-member states before the Soviet Union agreed not to veto their membership applications, and they were admitted to full membership. Permanent non-member organizations have included such disparate groups as the Organization of American States, the Palestine Liberation Organization, the Provisional Revolutionary Government of Vietnam (in 1974), and the Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee. General Assembly votes on all permanent non-member representation since 1948 have inevitably garnered minimally a two-thirds affirmative vote. Taiwan is a formidable global economic presence. How can it be isolated from the premier comprehensive international organization dedicated to world peace and economic development?
The slogan of Chinese communism today is `to get rich is glorious.' As part of the pathway to glory, private Taiwanese citizens have been permitted to invest nearly $10 billion on the mainland. The functional dynamics of growing trade and visits and unofficial talks between the mainland and Taiwan offers a realistic hope of future, official political talks. What better place for quiet dialogue than a secluded room at the United Nations, but only if Taiwan can at least be associated with the United Nations as a permanent non-member state?
- The U.S. administration quietly bemoans the mucking up of U.S.-China relations. Official administration press guidance is based on three earlier joint U.S.-China communiques and the fact that both Beijing and Taipei acknowledge there is only one China. Consequently, there is no place for Taiwan at the United Nations. It is forgotten that in 1968 at the height of the Cold War, when the United States still recognized the Republic of China as the only China, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Arthur Goldberg, proposed that People's Republic should be admitted to the United Nations while Taiwan retained its seat.
- This is an opportunity for the United States, not an irritating distraction. The viability and global importance of Taiwan will not go away through an international variation of tribal shunning. The need for status, and a sense of self-respect and self-worth are as preset in countries as in individuals. International second class or non-status is a growing concern to all those on Taiwan, whether pro-government or sympathetic to the opposition. All political groups on Taiwan support Taipei's desire for U.N. membership. Shunning Taiwan will inevitably lead to more numerous, strident calls for a formal declaration of independence. The People's Republic threatens force if independence is proclaimed. The seeds of a first-class international crisis will be nurtured unless the United Nations makes some positive response to Taipei.
- The stairway to political reconciliation and closer linkages between Taiwan and the mainland must be taken a step at a time. Taiwan's affiliation with the United Nations will as a permanent non-member state be a major positive step. The Clinton administration's benign neutrality on the issue would contribute more to world harmony and prosperity than the current, quiet U.S. opposition to Taiwan's desire for U.N. affiliation.
END