Vice President Urges U.N. To Embrace 'Diversity, Peace And Love'

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In the next century, Lu said, it would be absolutely absurd for the United Nations to remain deaf and, blind to Taiwan’s existence as a country and continue to reject its entry.

Lu made the remarks in a speech delivered to the IASAS Model United Nations (MUN) Millennium Assembly held at the Taipei American School.

In her speech, titled “New Century, New Leadership, New Vision,” Lu urged the United Nations to stop the “politics of exclusion and discrimination,” and instead embrace the “politics of diversity, peace and love.”

The ROC, a U.N. founding member, has been shut out of the world body since 1971 when it gave the China seat to Beijing at the expense of Taipei.

Lu said the United Nations has given in to Beijing’s bullying and dare not admit that Taiwan is a real country that has created economic and democratic “miracles.”

“In the new century, we need a U.N. that fosters the spirit of harmony in diversity. We need a U.N. that can foster dialogue among all countries, and respect for difference and diversity. We need a U.N. that can really and sincerely encourage resource sharing and cooperation,” Lu said.

With the 21^st century just 38 days away, Lu went on, the global market economy and information revolution are now combining to transcend national borders.

Noting that a rising trend of regional cooperation and global integration has been seen in the past decade, Lu said the North American Free Trade Agreement and the European Union are the two most enlightening cases, demonstrating that integration among nations is not only possible, but achievable.

“If Europe, the origin of the two world wars, has been able to respect the difference of each individual state and achieve the level of economic and political integration it has today, then Asia should not sit idly by,” Lu said.

The first female vice president reiterated the idea of “a union of Asia states,” which she said could serve the functions of integration and give Asia nations a greater and more effective role in world affairs. “It would also increase the economic efficiency, enhance social openness, and promote peace in the region,” she added.

Some 250 youth leaders from all over the world met at the Taipei American School emulating the U.N. and simulating the roles of ambassadors. The agenda covered a range of global issues, including disaster relief, international crime, peace, security, global institutions and sustainable development.