Annan parrots Beijing's line on Sep 17, 2004

A guerilla meeting with the UN media

After a last-minute decision to avoid confrontation with UN officials, the UN press corps proceeded with a videoconference with Chen Shui-bian at a nearby hotel, where Chen said that exclusion from the UN was unjust and dangerous for the region

Mr. Jenkins, friends from the New York press corps, ambassadors of Taiwan's allied nations to the UN, ladies and gentlemen: Greetings to you all.

I am very pleased, on the second day of the convening of the 59th UN General Assembly, to be able to send you my greetings via videoconference.

I remember that a little more than 10 years ago, my wife and I had the opportunity to visit the UN headquarters. I will never forget that when the UN staff saw that my wife was handicapped and confined to a wheelchair, they immediately made arrangements to prioritize our tour in a show of respect for the disabled and disadvantaged. That experience also left me with a deep admiration for the principles expressed in the first chapter of the Charter of the UN, that is, "to develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace."

Peace, respect, equality and amity are the core values on which the UN was established. They are also important assets, which have enabled the UN to sustain human civilization from the time of its founding to today. As a member of the international community, Taiwan has faithfully performed all duties and responsibilities set forth by the UN. We also play an indispensable role in such areas as the global economy and trade, peacekeeping efforts, humanitarian relief and even the consolidation of democracy.

Discrimination

A free and democratic country like Taiwan deserves to be treated properly and with respect by the international community. Unfortunately, this was not the case last year, when Asia was hit by SARS, originating in China, and the people of Taiwan had to face the epidemic without the timely attention of the international medical system. Even when Taiwan included this delayed attention as a reason behind our bid for observer status in the World Health Assembly, Chinese officials responded with senselessness and discrimination, retorting: "Who cares about you?"

A free and democratic country like Taiwan should not be the "missing piece" in the UN's Principle of Universality. Taiwan's absence in the UN has left its 23 million people without an internationally acknow-ledged identity and has turned them into international vagabonds, victims of political apartheid.

Distinguished guests and friends from the press, the UN General Assembly is currently in session. On Aug. 10, the representatives of 15 of Taiwan's diplomatic allies jointly submitted a motion for Taiwan's participation in the UN to the secretary-general. The motion asks that the UN General Assembly acknowledge the right of Taiwan's 23 million people to representation in the UN system and adopt appropriate measures to realize this right.

I would like to emphasize here that General Assembly Resolution 2758 dealt only with the People's Republic of China's (PRC) right to representation in the UN and its subsidiary organizations; it did not grant the PRC the right to represent the people of Taiwan in the UN and its subsidiary organizations. Taiwan is Taiwan. Taiwan cannot and will not fight for the right to represent "China." Taiwan is a land of 36,000km2, and it deserves representation for the 23 million people who live here.

Clear violation

Regrettably, Resolution 2758 is wrongly interpreted to justify Taiwan's exclusion from the UN family and thus deprive the basic rights of Taiwan's 23 million people to take part in UN efforts and activities. This exclusion is a clear violation of both the Charter of the UN and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as other international human-rights principles. Moreover, it presents a great irony for the UN's Principle of Universality.

Taiwan today has a fully capable government and a pluralistic and democratic political system that safeguards human rights. Per capita income has reached US$14,000. Foreign exchange reserves have exceeded US$230 billion. It is the world's 15th-largest trading nation and conducts effective relations with other members of the international community. Taiwan maintains formal diplomatic relations with 25 UN member states. It is also a member of numerous international bodies, including the World Trade Organization.

Taiwan has been active in making constructive contributions to the maintenance of global peace and world order. From countering international terrorism to providing humanitarian relief, from the pursuit of reconciliation across the Taiwan Strait to the promotion of stability in the Asia-Pacific region, Taiwan's efforts have been wit-nessed by the international community. At the end of August, I made a point of visiting Pearl Harbor during my stopover in Hawaii. Prior to this visit, I announced the cancelation of the Sept. 9 Han Guang military exercise in order to convey a friendly message of peace in the Taiwan Strait.

Urgent need

The historical lesson of Pearl Harbor inspires profound and serious reflection on war and peace. It is indeed necessary for a democratic country to maintain basic defense capabilities. For Taiwan, which faces a clear and constant military threat from a non-democratic country, the need to strengthen our defense capabilities is especially urgent. I have always believed, however, that peace offers the best path towards sustainable development for Mankind, and democracy is the only road that leads to peace and stability.

I solemnly declared in my second inauguration speech on May 20 this year that I will invite the governing and opposition parties in this country to join with representatives from all sectors of society to establish a committee for cross-strait peace and development. Together, we will draft the guidelines for cross-strait peace and development, and pave the way for a new relationship of cross-strait peace, stability and sustainable development. Should it accept Taiwan, the UN would certainly provide a most effective international monitoring mechanism for the development of a framework for peace and stability between the two sides of the Strait. Indeed, it would be able to exercise decisive influence on peace in the Taiwan Strait and the security of the Asia-Pacific region.

I would like to remind the Beijing authorities that Taiwan's pursuit of UN participation does not challenge the PRC's place in the UN. Beijing must understand that prior to the unification of Germany, both East and West had UN membership. In Korea, both North and South are presently UN members, and this does not hinder their pursuit of unification on the Korean peninsula.

Rancor

Therefore, the persistent obstruction of Taiwan's participation in the international community only serves to further alienate Taiwan from China, and causes rancor on both sides. This by no means benefits the normalization of cross-strait relations. Taiwan has once again extended an olive branch of peace, and it is my sincere hope that the other members of the UN will acknowledge the legitimacy and strong aspirations of Taiwan's 23 million people in seeking to join the UN, and support in the General Assembly this year the motion for Taiwan's participation in the UN.

In the recently concluded Athens Olympic Games, Taiwan's athletes made history by winning two gold medals, two silver medals and one bronze. For a country as small as Taiwan to rank 31st among participating nations in terms of gold medals is remarkable and exceptional. However, limited by international politics, we are forced to use the name "Chinese Taipei" at all related events instead of our official title of the "Republic of China," or Taiwan. That a gold medalist from Taiwan is forbidden to sing his national anthem and salute his national flag is both sad and regrettable. If only the nations of the world could put themselves in Taiwan's place! I wish they could understand the situation of the Taiwanese people, and give us their staunchest support.

In closing, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to [UN Correspondents Association]president Jenkins and all of our friends there from the media. This opportunity for me, as the incumbent president re-elected by popular vote in Taiwan, to speak out to the world symbolizes the unwavering resolve of democratic Taiwan to participate in the UN and international affairs. I hope that I will have the chance to meet you at the UN. I further wish that, through the arrangements of the UN Correspondents Association, I can engage in a public debate on the issue of Taiwan's participation in the UN with the Chinese leader Hu Jintao.

Media questions

Anthony Jenkins, Expresso>: In the UN, it is given that the legal status of Taiwan is settled, in other words, that you are a part of China, the UN accepts the principle that peoples can secede from the nation to which they belong if they did it on a peaceful basis. That was how Slovakia split up from Czechoslovakia. Therefore, the analysts here, diplomats here, say that it would be okay for Taiwan to become independent, but that has to be negotiated with Beijing. And to bring the issue here to New York serves no purpose other than to antagonize Beijing, to make the tensions across the Strait worse, and to heighten some sort of military tension. How do you respond to these criticisms?

Chen: As I said in my opening remarks, Resolution 2758 of the UN General Assembly did not give the PRC the right to represent Taiwan in the UN and its subsidiary organizations. This point is clear. Secondly, we believe that our quest to join the UN is not aimed at provoking China. We are not seeking to represent China in the UN. Instead, Taiwan is Taiwan. And we are hoping that the aspirations of the 23 million people of Taiwan to participate in international organizations can be taken seriously by the UN, which upholds the principle of universality.

As I mentioned, during the SARS epidemic last year, many people, many individuals were quarantined. We hope that the 23 million people of Taiwan are not politically quarantined or isolated from participation in the UN.

Of course, it would be simplest to resolve the issue of Taiwan's participation in the UN between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. But we believe that this issue is not only an issue involving the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. It is an important international issue.

I have just quoted Chapter I of the UN Charter, highlighting the principles of universality and equality. The aspirations of the 23 million people of Taiwan and their hope from the bottom of their hearts must not be ignored by the international community.

With the exception of the Vatican, all nations that want to join the UN have the right to join. Only Taiwan is an exception and excluded. This is extremely unfair.

Ian Williams, The Nation: President Chen, you mentioned the example of the two Germanys and the two Koreas. Do you consider that UN membership for Taiwan would preclude in any way future discussions about reunification, if that's what the people on both sides were to desire?

Chen: That is precisely the reason why I have utilized the examples of the two Germanys and the two Koreas. Their simultaneous participation in the UN did not affect eventual unification. Both East and West Germany were members of the UN before we saw a unified Germany. Their separate memberships did not prevent the unification, and the same applies to the Korean Peninsula. Both North and South Korea are in the UN and this does not affect their quest for the unification of the Korean Peninsula.

In my May 20th reelection inauguration speech this year, I mentioned that the 23 million people of Taiwan, including myself, can understand why the Beijing authorities have to persist in the principle of "one China" due to historical sentiments. We can fully understand their feelings. But why can't the Chinese turn around and understand the Taiwanese people's aspiration to join the international community? We hope to see some mutual understanding.

I also mentioned in my inauguration speech that, as long as the people of Taiwan agree, we would not rule out any possibility of a kind of relationship between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait in the future. We believe that with Taiwan's participation, the UN can become the best platform for peace and development across the Taiwan Strait. The UN platform will bring the two sides closer, not further apart.

Benni Avni, The New York Sun: Mr. President, to follow up on Mr. Jenkins' question about negotiation with China, China doesn't recognize you, doesn't think you have the right to exist as a nation. Is there any political incentive for China to negotiate anything with you, including joining the UN, or any other question like that?

Chen: We cannot imagine in a democratic country like the US, where the freedom of speech and the freedom of press are respected 100 percent, that a democratic leader who wants to speak to other democratic countries on behalf of his 23 million citizens can be prevented [from doing it] and hindered.

There are many things that are hard for us to imagine. For example, that in such a pluralistic and diverse country, when the leader of Taiwan wishes to address a free press in New York City -- for example to an audience of the UN Correspondents Association in the UN headquarters -- why China has to engage in such oppressive behavior. Only undemocratic, dictatorial and authoritarian countries would seek to deprive the right of others to speak. The Beijing leadership can refuse to accept the content of my speech, however, they cannot deprive me of the right to speak.

I believe that the issue of Taiwan's participation in the UN is not Taiwan's own issue; it is not an internal issue across the Taiwan Strait. Rather, it is an important international issue worthy of attention.

That is why I sincerely hope that the UN Correspondents Association can arrange or provide an opportunity for me to publicly debate this issue with China's leader, Hu Jintao.

Evelyn Leopold, Reuters: What threats of cutting off power and electricity have come from China, as the president just mentioned? If either of you has any information, we would love to know. Also, the General Assembly resolution, Mr. President, doesn't say that China should represent Taiwan. But it does say that Taiwan, then under [former president] Chiang Kai-shek, had to leave all UN agencies, which is [the] interpretation that the UN is using.

Chen: There are many regrets over not being able to hold this videoconference in the UN headquarters due to pressure. However, ... for this, I am truly grateful to have this opportunity to speak to you outside the UN headquarters on free and democratic US soil.

And again, I want to reiterate that the UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 did not deal with the question of China's right to represent Taiwan's 23 million people. And I bring up this important question, hoping that we do not continue to see Beijing's distortion of this resolution.

We do not hope to see the Beijing authorities using fists to pressure us, threaten us and ignore our presence. That is why I am calling for a public debate on this issue. I believe that the truth will prevail.

Tony Lin, Chinese Television System: I have a question indirectly related to this press conference. Several days ago in Athens, the first lady of Taiwan was issued the "highest VIP card" by the Interna-tional Paralympics Committee, which was then canceled. Do you think that event has anything in common with this particular press conference? And do you think you can do anything to prevent that from happening again? Do you feel frustrated?

Chen: China's suppression, boycotting and hampering of Taiwan are ever-present. Taiwan suffered from Beijing's suppression even as we battled the SARS epidemic. Now, my wife did nothing more than lead our national team to the Paralympics to support and encourage our nation's athletes, but even this is subject to the same pressure. Why is it that China is not willing to spare even sports, athletics and the disabled?

My wife, Wu Shu-jen, prior to leaving Taiwan, was issued an NPC [National Paralympic Committee] card by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) in line with the appropriate procedures. I have no doubt that this is true. It clearly says here on this card that my wife, Wu Shu-chen, is the leader of the national team from Chinese Taipei.

I also have here in my hand an invitation letter, dated Nov. 10 of last year. This is a letter from the International Paralympic Committee to my wife, clearly addressed to her as the "ROC First Lady." They are aware of her position, that she is the wife of the president, and they invited her to attend the Paralympic Games. The letter mentions that if there were a high government official leading the delegation, it would help raise the visibility of the disabled athletes as well as promote concern and understanding for the disabled within society.

However, we regret that upon my wife's arrival in Athens, the IPC took away what they had

previously granted. The reason, according to our understanding, is Chinese pressure. The IPC now says that the leader of the national team to the Paralympic Games has to be the president or the secretary-general of the local Paralympics committee, and my wife, as honorary chairwoman of the committee here in Taiwan, is not qualified.

Looking at the Athens Olympic Games, however, we see that the leader of the US delegation was respected former president George Bush, though he is clearly not the chairman of the US Olympic Committee, nor is he the secretary-general. And at this year's Paralympic Games, the leaders of the teams from Australia and New Zealand, for example, are not the chairmen, presidents, or secretaries-general of their home Paralympic committees. So this is clearly a targeted, discretionary action taken to suppress Taiwan.

As we all know, my wife is paralyzed from the waist down. She has been in a wheelchair for the past 20 years. If someone in her position is not qualified to lead the delegation, then who is? We deeply regret that the IPC has bowed to Chinese pressure to oppress Taiwan and discriminate against the disabled.

Marc Carnegie, Agence France-Presse: You've spoken very comprehensively about what you think UN membership for Taiwan might be able to achieve in terms of relations with the mainland and in terms of other crises like SARS. I wonder what you think UN membership for Taiwan might be able to achieve in terms of other regional issues, such as the nuclear issue with North Korea and other crises that directly affect the region?

Chen: believe that if Taiwan can become a member of the UN, we can make the greatest contribution to regional peace, security and stability. We are very concerned about the Korean peninsula issue and the North Korean nuclear crisis. However, North Korea is a member of the UN, and currently there are six-party talks on this particular issue.

On the South China Sea issues, all the ASEAN member states along with the US, Japan and China are concerned and involved in the dialogue. In terms of the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan is key to the peace, security and stability of this region. However, Taiwan cannot be absent in the dialogue to resolve this issue and to create stability and security in this region. All parties around this region, including the US and Japan, are concerned about the peaceful resolution of the cross-strait issue. They also encourage and would like to see peaceful dialogue to resolve this issue. In the resolution of any issue, the two sides involved have to be on an equal footing. This is an important principle. Taiwan is one side of the two sides across the Taiwan Strait, and we must be treated fairly. I believe that if Taiwan can become a member of the UN, under UN monitoring mechanisms, then the cross-strait issue can be resolved peacefully.

He Hongze, People's Daily: Mr. Chen, you have spoken repeatedly about asking for dialogue with Beijing leaders, right? But we had a dialogue in 1992, and we all understand why at that time we could have a dialogue. Do you think that we can return to the basis of 1992 and resume that dialogue? Also, you mentioned the two Germanys and two Koreas. It's very clear that both Germanys and both Koreas pursued unification, and they admit that they are one nation and one people. Do you think that now you still pursue the unification of the two sides? And do you still admit that the people on both sides are one people?

Chen: We believe that both sides across the Strait must engage in dialogue on the existing foundation. The 1992 consensus was mentioned. I do not believe that there was a consensus in 1992. However, there was a dialogue in 1992. This is the truth. In 1992, there was a cross-strait dialogue. This was a very good experience. With or without a consensus on both sides, everyone was able to sit down and talk. We all hope to be able to use this model to solve cross-strait discrimination.

But I want to emphasize that even without a consensus in 1992, there was an existing foundation, and we hope that this foundation can also provide for the resumption of dialogue. At the end of August, I transited through Hawaii and visited Pearl Harbor. There I mentioned that 59 years ago, the US and Japan were at war with each other, but today they are the best of friends and partners. If even enemies can become friends, then do the people on both sides of the Strait, sharing a common cultural and ethnic background, really want to be enemies?

We hope that across the Taiwan Strait we can establish a peace and stability framework for interaction, and we hope to build consensus in Taiwan to establish guidelines for cross-strait peace and development. Across the Taiwan Strait we want not only peace but also development. I especially mentioned in my May 20 inauguration speech that as long as the 23 million people of Taiwan agree, we will not rule out any possibility in seeking to establish relations in any form whatsoever.

Patricia Ugalde, Grupo Nacion: A question regarding the support of our countries for Taiwan to be part of the UN. It has been said in the past that Taiwan offers political support rather than economic aid, and there have also been some scandal issues about international administration of debt money in our countries. Does Taiwan plan to give economic aid instead of political support to get other countries to support Taiwan for the UN?

Chen: Costa Rica is an important ally of Taiwan and we are grateful for the support and friendship expressed by the government and people of Costa Rica to the 23 million people of Taiwan. We firmly believe that the diplomatic relationship between Taiwan and Costa Rica is not based only on financial and economic cooperation, but rather on our shared values of democracy, freedom, human rights, peace and other universal principles.

Taiwan was once a recipient of foreign aid and now that we are capable we must contribute and repay to the international community and play out our responsibilities. So to our friends and allied nations such as Costa Rica, we are concerned about the welfare of the people and the economic infrastructure of the country, and if there is anything that Taiwan's people or government can do, we are always willing.

This is an edited version of the text issued by the Presidential Office.

Annan parrots Beijing's line

By Lee Long-hwa

The vassals of Beijing -- UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and his timid administration -- are once again hiding behind Resolution 2758 instead of protecting the UN Charter for freedom and universal human rights. One might expect Beijing to use Resolution 2758, because communist dictators can never truly understand the rule of law. But one should have much higher expectations of the world's supposed watchdog of liberty and justice.

Instead, the UN has become the watchdog of political correctness, complacence, appeasement and timidity. One good word of chastisement from Annan might shut Beijing up. But Annan's continual pandering to Beijing has emboldened the communist tyrants to use every means to crush Taiwan's very existence. The complicity of the UN in this racism, oppression and imperialism is an indictment of its anachronistic existence. Either it acts the part of an organization designed to protect humanity against naked aggression -- such as that of Beijing against Taiwan, Tibet and the many hundreds of millions oppressed throughout China -- or it should fold its tent and go home.

A recent example of Beijing's heavy-handed and highly public oppression of Taiwan is its attempt to prevent public discussion on Taiwan's application for UN membership through an international group of reporters at the UN. What kind of truly independent and freedom-loving association would bar 23 million people from having a voice in order to argue why they should be allowed to have a voice? But Beijing has relentlessly used the UN as a mouthpiece for its repressive communist dictatorship policies, and Kofi Annan has become Beijing's favorite parrot.

International reporters sought to hold a video conference with President Chen Shui-bian to discuss Taiwan's application for UN membership. "Not on our premises," cried the UN Secretariat, citing Resolution 2758, as though it is a legal bar to anything and everything Taiwan will ever do. Annan and the rest of the world's pandering minions have used the charade of the "one China" policy to the same extent. They are doing the dirty work of Beijing, preventing any discussion of its repression, oppression, tyranny and imperialism. Beijing used the same means to suppress all discussion of its policy of eugenics in Tibet, using the old "internal matter" argument -- code at the UN for "leave us alone this time, and we'll leave you alone next time."

As for Resolution 2758, it says nothing about Taiwan or the 23 million people of Taiwan. It merely states that the People's Republic of China represents China, and the "representatives of Chiang Kai-shek" do not. The resolution does not state that Taiwan is China, nor part of China. Taiwan has not claimed to represent "China" at the UN or to replace it or dispossess it. In the hopelessly convoluted world of global politics, China, by its threats to bomb Taiwan, has prevented Taiwan from even declaring it is not China, and does not represent China. Were Taiwan to change its Constitution to state this emphatically, China would attack Taiwan for "seeking independence." And the UN would look on, chastising Taiwan for being provocative. The international community appears paralyzed by the catch-22 Beijing has created to squelch any dissent.

For Beijing to assert that Resolution 2758 prevents Chen from speaking to the UN is reprehensible enough. But for the UN Secretariat to state it demonstrates that it is merely the mouthpiece of communist China. How tragic.

One cannot be surprised by this turn of events. Instead of leading the world organization with strength and conviction for what is right, Annan has steadfastly done nothing, steering a neutral course to avoid conflict in every case.

How can the UN be proud of anything when black Africans are raped and murdered in Darfur every single day while the UN sits around and debates the definition of "genocide," millions of Tibetans are targeted by Beijing's policy of eugenics and 23 million people in Taiwan are excluded from the world under a legal interpretation of a UN resolution provided by dictators who hold absolute power in a country where there is no rule of law?

Edmund Burke said "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." Kofi Annan is the paradigmatic example of this inherent truth. Under his leadership, the UN will never "be all that it can be." His tenure at the UN cannot end too soon.

Lee Long-hwa   United States

Taiwan's 12th bid for UN membership fails

By Melody Chen
STAFF REPORTER , WITH AP

Taiwan's 12th bid to enter the UN failed after the UN General Assembly decided on Wednesday not to include a proposal considering Taiwan's representation in the body in its agenda.

The proposal, entitled "The Question of the Representation of the 23 million people of Taiwan in the United Nations," submitted by 15 of Taiwan's allies, was discussed in the first General Committee meeting of the 59th session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday.

One hundred and fifteen countries spoke on the issue, with 21 of them speaking in Taiwan's favor. China mobilized 93 countries to speak against the proposal. Discussion on the issue lasted four hours.

After more than 90 speeches -- the vast majority against putting Taiwan on the assembly's agenda -- President Jean Ping of Gabon asked the assembly's General Committee if there were any objections to not including the issue for discussion in this year's General Assembly.

When none were voiced, he banged his gavel, and the request was rejected without a vote.

"At the first General Committee meeting this year, among all items considered, the one concerning Taiwan took the longest time to discuss, with the largest number of countries participating in a fervent debate," said Minister of Foreign Affairs Mark Chen at a press conference explaining outcome of the proposal bid.

Noting that the lengthy and heated discussion of the proposal demonstrates that Taiwan's bid continues to draw extensive international attention, the minister expressed deep regret that the proposal was rejected.

"However, we are not discouraged. We have done just what is right. The international community will eventually respond positively to our appeal for justice and peace," Chen said.

Last year, China mobilized a record-high number of countries, 104, to speak against Taiwan's bid, whereas 24 of Taiwan's allies spoke in favor of it.

This year, four of Taiwan's allies, Kiribati, Panama, Haiti and the Dominican Republic, did not speak for the proposal. The Holy See, an observer in the UN, does not have the capacity to speak in the General Assembly.

Kiribati, though a UN member, did not send a delegation to the assembly. New leaders just took over Haiti and Panama, and they are still forming new diplomatic policies, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"The US remained silent throughout the discussion. Big EU nations, such as France, Germany and the UK, opposed to our bid. However, the UK, though it spoke against the proposal, spent some time acclaiming Taiwan's democratic achievement," Chen said.

Panama's ambassador to Taiwan Jose Antonio Dominguez explained that his country did not speak on behalf of Taiwan because Panama's new ambassador to the UN is still building contacts.

"We will continue supporting Taiwan. We will continue strengthening the relationship between the two countries," he said.

The ministry said although China mobilized all its diplomatic resources, "many countries that do not share diplomatic ties with us expressed to us, in a private fashion, their sympathy and support.

President Chen Shui-bian thanked the country's allies for their firm support of Taiwan's efforts to join the UN and the World Health Organization.

Speaking at a banquet celebrating the 183rd anniversary of the Independence Day of Central America, hosted by embassies of Taiwan's allies Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Honduras, the president vowed Taiwan would try its best to be a responsible member in the international community.

"We will continue to do so with courage and determination," Chen said.

Taking steps toward a UN seat

Taiwan's 12th bid for UN membership was rejected by a vote of 94 to 21 at the 59th UN General Assembly session yesterday, once again failing to make it onto the assembly's agenda. Although the nation still remains outside the world body, its new strategies and tactics were a breakthrough compared with those of the past, and they deserve our praise.

The national title used was an obvious change. In the joint proposal by our 15 diplomatic allies -- entitled "The Question of the Representation of the 23 Million People of Taiwan in the United Nations" -- the nation is called the "Republic of China (Taiwan)" in the first paragraph, but is referred to as "Taiwan" in the rest of the text.

When the nation launched its first UN bid some 12 years ago, the name used was the "Republic of China." In the past few years, this was amended to the "Republic of China on Taiwan." But the change this year, to the "Republic of China (Taiwan)" only in the first paragraph, shows the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has adjusted Taiwan's national title in accordance with the political situation at home and abroad.

President Chen Shui-bian also moved into the frontline this year, holding a video conference with the UN Correspondents' Association (UNCA) to give the world his opinion about Taiwan's 23 million people being blocked from joining the international community.

Breaking with past practice, Chen this year directly attacked UN Resolution 2758, which recognized the People's Republic of China (PRC) as the representative of the people of China. Chen promoted a legal separation of Taiwan and China, saying that "Taiwan is Taiwan, and Taiwan neither can nor will compete for China's right to representation."

The president stressed that Resolution 2758 has been misused to block Taiwan from UN participation, depriving Taiwan's 23 million people of their basic human right to participate in UN activities. He said this not only violates the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights principles, it also mocks the UN's principle of universality for membership.

Noting that both East and West Germany had enjoyed UN membership and that this had not prevented their eventual unification, and that North and South Korea's separate seats in the UN do not stop them from pursuing unification, Chen asked that the international community allow both sides of the Taiwan Strait to be UN members, thus making the UN a platform for cross-strait negotiations.

The Government Information Office also engaged in an international ad campaign publishing ads entitled "UNFAIR," bringing the issue directly to the international community and highlighting the unfairness of the UN's political isolation of Taiwan and its people. Chen also broke the back of China's incessant suppression of Taiwan by his unprecedented conference with international media during which he emphasized Taiwan's appeal to join the UN. These events show that the government's tactics are becoming more layered and flexible.

In a US presidential election year, no one wants to see any major changes, so it is not surprising to once again see Taiwan's bid to enter the UN end in failure. Despite this, the increased visibility and discussion of Taiwan's UN membership in the General Assembly, and recognition regarding the misuse of Resolution 2758 is heartening; it marks a significant step forward on Taiwan's road to UN membership.