September 22, 2023
No. 316
The 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) opened September 5, with the Sustainable Development Goals Summit and other high-level meetings taking place from September 18. The General Debate is being held from September 19 to 26. Eight heads of state and heads of government from Taiwan’s diplomatic allies and friendly countries had voiced support for Taiwan as of September 21—namely Prime Minister John Briceño of Belize, President Alejandro Giammattei Falla of Guatemala, President Santiago Peña Palacios of Paraguay, President Petr Pavel of the Czech Republic, President Surangel Whipps, Jr., of Palau, King Mswati III of Eswatini, President David Kabua of the Marshall Islands, and President Russ Kun of Nauru. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) expresses its sincere appreciation.
In response to Chinese Vice President Han Zheng’s repeated references to the so-called “one China principle” in the General Debate on September 21, MOFA expresses its strongest condemnation. MOFA reiterates that the People’s Republic of China has never governed Taiwan, that Taiwan is not part of the PRC, and that neither democratic Taiwan nor autocratic China is subordinate to the other. This has long been an internationally recognized fact and the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. Only Taiwan’s democratically elected government has the right to represent Taiwan’s 23 million people in the United Nations system and other international arenas. The authoritarian regime of the Chinese Communist Party continues to mislead the international community—which is contemptible. China’s attempts to unilaterally change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait pose a serious threat to regional peace, security, and stability.
Taiwan is a force for good and a responsible member of the international community, as well as an indispensable partner for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. MOFA calls on the United Nations to stop echoing China’s absurd claims and take prompt measures to include Taiwan in the United Nations system for the benefit of all humankind. (E)