Madam Speaker, as a long-time friend of Taiwan, and as one of the 140 bipartisan Members of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting an issue that my…
Madam Speaker, as a long-time friend of Taiwan, and as one of the 140 bipartisan Members of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting an issue that my Taiwanese-American constituents and I care deeply about.
During the previous Congress, I introduced H. Con. Res. 250, which supports Taiwan's full membership in international organizations such as the United Nations. To me, it seems only fair that a country with a population of 23 million be represented in the U.N. and its affiliated organizations.
If it weren't for China's disapproval, Taiwan would likely have become a member of the U.N. long ago. China consistently blocks Taiwan's membership in the U.N. because China opposes international recognition of Taiwan's status as a sovereign and independent country. And since China is a large country, and Taiwan a small one, Taiwan's involvement in international organizations has become contingent upon Chinese approval.
A prime example of China's influence occurred just a short while ago. In early April of this year, the media reported that China would permit Taiwan's Health Minister to attend the annual summit of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva for the second year in a row.
Then, in mid-April, our State Department sent a report to Congress supporting ``meaningful participation'' by Taiwan in the WHO. It read: ``As we plan for the 63rd WHA [World Health Assembly] session this May, the U.S. welcomes the extension of WHA's invitation once again to Taiwan to send an observer delegation. [. . .] The invitation to attend the 2009 WHA was issued after the People's Republic of China agreed to Taiwan's participation.'' Clearly, Taiwan attended this year's summit only because China allowed it to do so.
I am concerned that other countries and international organizations will now begin to view China as Taiwan's suzerain. If this view becomes the accepted international norm, Taiwan's current status as an independent, sovereign state will be undermined further.
Some applaud the fact that Taiwan had any presence in this year's summit. I would like to point out though that, due to Chinese pressure, Taiwan participated under the name ``Chinese Taipei,'' even though the name of the country is ``Taiwan.'' Taipei is merely Taiwan's capital. In addition, Taiwan participated in the WHA session as a mere ``observer.'' This meant that Taiwan's representatives did not have the right to vote during the weeklong meeting. Furthermore, Taiwan's participation was not permanent; it came under Beijing's sponsorship on a one-year-at-a-time basis.
Rather than supporting ``meaningful participation,'' I believe the U.S. should promote Taiwan's full membership in international organizations such as the WHO. I therefore urge my colleagues to join me in supporting Taiwan's full and equal membership in the United Nations, the WHO, and other international organizations.
