Contributed by Ashecia Sam. Updated 8:14 p.m., Thursday, October 10, 2024, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
The Republic of China (Taiwan) deeply appreciates the support of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the United Nations (UN) arena.
President of the Prospect Foundation Dr. I-Chung Lai told members of the international press team for Taiwan’s National Day 2024 that this type of support for Taiwan on the international front is very important to the country.
“Right now it is more important than ever due to the fact that China is heavily distorting the issue about the 1971 UN Resolution 2758 into something as if the resolution signifies that Taiwan is a part of China and we know it is not”, Dr. Lai explained.
He lamented that Taiwan does not have a voice in the United Nations and the People’s Republic of China has an influence at the international forum.
Dr. Lai said: “The incorrect interpretations become a norm and prevent our rightful presence and participation in the United Nations related agencies and functions.”
He pointed out that it also prevents other countries from accessing the support that Taiwan can provide to them. He said there is a lot of support that Taiwan would like to offer especially as it relates to Covid-19, but they are being prevented by international organizations within the UN.
“The issue about Taiwan’s participation could be a precursor to the Chinese possible invasions because we see a pattern that if China is successful in isolating Taiwan nationally, the next step is to possibly eliminate Taiwan completely”, Dr. Lai said. He equated the Chinese possible elimination of Taiwan to Iran’s plans to eliminate Israel.
The Communist Government of China has been ramping up pressure on the democratically elected government of Taiwan, stoking fear that it might attempt to retake the island by force.
Dr. Lai said the international political support for Taiwan’s rightful place at the UN and Taiwan’s statehood are critical issues for Taiwan’s survival.
He expressed appreciation for their allies, especially Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines for doing that for Taiwan, which he said is a sovereign and democratic country.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines is one of 12 UN member countries that diplomatically recognize Taiwan instead of the People’s Republic of China.
Dr. Ralph Gonsalves voiced his support for Taiwan during his address at the 77th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations on September 24.
Prime Minister Gonsalves, during his address, questioned the relative silence and inaction in disregard of Taiwan’s legitimate right to exist in accord with the wishes and will of the Taiwanese people.
The Vincentian Prime Minister pushed for the inclusion of Taiwan’s relevant agencies in the United Nations’ system, such as the World Health Organisation and the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
“St Vincent and the Grenadines continues to urge that Taiwan be allowed to participate fully in the specialised agencies of the United Nations, including those pertaining to health, air and sea transport, climate change, disaster preparedness, and global policy,” Gonsalves said.
Taiwan, known as the Republic of China, was one of the original member states of the United Nations and remained active until 1971 when Resolution 2758 recognised the People’s Republic of China as “the only legitimate representative of China to the United Nations.”
At the 77th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, Dr. Gonsalves also emphasized the importance for both Taipei and Beijing to maintain peace.
“The prospect of a disruption of the tenuous peace across the Taiwan Strait is alarming. The quest for hegemony and the denial of a people’s inalienable right to self-determination are wrong in the East as it is the West; bullying is objectionable in the West as it is in the East; unilateral coercive action by a big power in the East are contrary to international law as it is surely in the west,” he said.
Gonsalves has pledged that SVG will continue to support the Taiwanese people’s right to self-determination.
SVG and Taiwan established diplomatic relations on August 15, 1981, and have mutually benefitted in numerous areas of cooperation.
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