UN General Assembly refuses to consider Taiwan's representation

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, September 18, 2003

UN General Assembly refuses to consider Taiwan's representation

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The General Committee of the United Nations General Assembly decided Wednesday at its 58th session not to include into the draft agenda of the current session the so-called "question of the Taiwan's representation in the UN."

The General Assembly has, for the 11th consecutive time, thwarted Taiwan's attempt to join the world inter-governmental body composed of sovereign states.

The decision was announced by Julian R. Hunte, president of the current session of the UN General Assembly, after a long debate on the issue, raised by Gambia and a few other countries.

Delegates from more than 100 countries addressed the General Committee session. Over 80 of delegates, including those from Britain, France, Russia and Spain, spoke in favor of China's position not to consider the issue.

Speaking at the session, Wang Guangya Chinese Permanent Representative to the UN, said that the purpose of a few countries in raising once again the issue of Taiwan's representation in the UN is to create "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan" in the world body.

"It is not only a gross violation of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter but also a brazen challenge to the one-China principle widely recognized by the international community."

He said Resolution 2758, which was adopted by the 26th session of the UN General Assembly in 1971, has solved, in political, legal and procedural terms, the issue of China's representation inthe United Nations.

He noted that there is but one China in the world, both the mainland and Taiwan are part of that one and same China. "It is an objectivity that cannot be changed by anybody."

Wang said that the question of Taiwan is purely an internal matter of China, and an early solution to the Taiwan question and realization of complete reunification of the motherland is in the fundamental interest of the entire Chinese people, including Taiwan compatriots and reflects the shared aspiration of all Chinese both at home and abroad.

He stressed that the creative concept of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems," put forward by Chinese top leader Deng Xiaoping constitutes the best way for the reunification between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits.

In their speech, delegates from many countries expressed the belief that there is no such issue as Taiwan's representation in the UN, as Resolution 2758 has solved the issue of UN representation for China, which includes Taiwan. They noted that raising the issue of Taiwan's representation in the UN constituted interference in China's internal affairs.

Many expressed regret that a few countries raised the same issue to no avail year after year, considering the move a waste of the precious time and resources of the General Assembly.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said early Thursday the latest rejection of a proposal on the so-called Taiwan's "representation" in the United Nations shows once again that one-China is the basic principle generally observed by the international community.

It indicates the firm determination of the vast majority of UN members to uphold the UN Charter and the Resolution 2758 of the UN General Assembly, he said.

"There is only one China in the world, and the Chinese mainland and Taiwan belong to one China. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of China cannot be severed," Kong said, adding that to safeguard national unity is a matter concerning the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation.

"All Chinese people, including the 23 million compatriots in Taiwan, will not agree to the actions of making 'two Chinas' or 'one China, one Taiwan' in the international community," the spokesman said.

Full Text of Wang Guangya's Statement

Mr. President,

This year, a very few countries have once again raised the so-called "question of the representation of Taiwan in the United Nations" The purpose of such act is to create "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan" in this Organization. It is not only a gross violation of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter but also a brazen challenge to the one-China principle widely recognized by the international community. The Chinese Government strongly condemns such flagrant interference in China's internal affairs and resolutely opposes the inclusion of item 166 of the draft agenda in the agenda of the 58th session of the General Assembly. In my letter addressed to the UN Secretary-General, H.E. Mr. Kofi Annan dated 7 August this year, I stated, in a comprehensive manner, the principled position of the Chinese Government on this question. I wish to take this opportunity to reiterate the following points:

1. There is but one China in the world, both the mainland and Taiwan are part of that one and same China, and China's sovereignty and territorial integrity brook no division. Both the 1943 Cairo Declaration and the 1945 Potsdam Proclamation have reaffirmed in unequivocal terms China's sovereignty over Taiwan as a matter of international law. To date, more than 160 countries in the world have diplomatic relations with China and they all recognize the one-China principle. It is an objectivity that cannot be changed by anybody.

2. As early as in 1971, the 26th session of the United Nations General Assembly adopted, by an overwhelming majority, Resolution 2758 (XXVI), which has solved, in political, legal and procedural terms, the issue of China's representation in the United Nations. There is simply no such issue as the so-called "Taiwan's representation in the United Nations". Ever since the day when the legitimate rights of the People's Republic of China were restored at the UN, the Chinese Government has attached great importance to and worked to ensure the participation and enjoyment of the benefit of activities of the United Nations and its specialized agencies by all Chinese including, naturally, our compatriots in Taiwan.

3. The United Nations is an inter-governmental organization composed of sovereign states. No sovereign state in the world would allow one of its provinces or regions to participate in the United Nations, an organization whose membership requires statehood. As a part of China, Taiwan is not eligible to participate, in whatever name and under whatever pretext, in the United Nations or its specialized agencies. The General Committee of each and every session of the General Assembly since 1993 has flatly rejected the inclusion in the agenda of the General Assembly of the so-called issue of Taiwan's "participation" in the United Nations. This fully demonstrates that to raise this issue in whatever form in the United Nations will fail to receive support from the vast number of UN Member States.

4. The question of Taiwan is purely an internal matter of China. An early solution to the Taiwan question and realization of complete reunification of the motherland is in the fundamental interest of the entire Chinese people including Taiwan compatriots and reflects the shared aspiration of all Chinese both at home and abroad. Mr. Deng Xiaoping came up with the creative concept of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems" which has become a basic state policy of China. Mr. Jiang Zemin has also put forward the "Eight-point Proposition on the Development of Cross-Straits Relations and the Promotion of the Peaceful Reunification of the Motherland�. Adherence to the one-China principle is the basis for the development of cross-straits relations and the realization of peaceful reunification. "one country, two systems" has been implemented successfully both in Hong Kong and Macao, and it is also the best way for the reunification between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits. The Chinese Central Government has stated clearly on many occasions that after its reunification with the mainland, Taiwan may keep its existing social system unchanged and enjoy a high degree of autonomy. Our Taiwan compatriots may keep their way of life unchanged, and their vital interests will be fully guaranteed. They will enjoy a lasting peace. Taiwan may then truly rely on the mainland as its hinterland for economic growth and thus get broad space for development. Our Taiwan compatriots may join the people on the mainland in exercising the right to administer the country and sharing the dignity and honor of the great motherland in the international community. Personages of Taiwan may also, as part of the Chinese delegation, participate in activities of relevant international organizations and international conferences. The Chinese Government will continue to work for the peaceful solution of the Taiwan question on the basis of the one-China principle.

5. Respect for state sovereignty and territorial integrity and non-interference in the internal affairs of a country are important principles of the Charter of the United Nations always cherished by all countries in the world. We appreciate the just position adopted by the vast number of UN Member States in abiding by the one-China principle. We believe that the General Committee of the 58th session the General Assembly will, as in the past, refuse once again to include the so-called "question of Taiwan" representation in the United Nations� in the agenda of the General Assembly session.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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