The 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly opened at the UN Headquarters in New York on the 10th. In response to the international attention to UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, the Taiwan United Nations Alliance (TAIUNA) dispatched a delegation to the United States to advocate. On the 13th, a public press conference was held at Ralph Bunche Park across from the United Nations building, stating that Resolution 2758 did not involve Taiwan’s sovereignty. However, due to China’s misinterpretation of the resolution, Taiwan has been excluded from relevant international organizations of the United Nations. TAIUNA urged the UN Secretariat to convene a hearing to review the interpretation of the resolution and Taiwan’s qualifications for UN participation.
Friday, TAIUNA youth representative Anna Tung read an open letter from TAIUNA Chairman Lin Yimin to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, stating that Taiwan has an independent sovereign government, territory, diplomatic allies, and regularly holds presidential elections, achieving peaceful and democratic power transitions. The people of Taiwan are dedicated to peace, friendliness, and enthusiasm, fully capable of contributing to the United Nations. The open letter called for a formal hearing by the UN to re-explain UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 and discuss Taiwan’s international status, as well as clarify the legal implications of the resolution.
The letter also referenced former U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley’s emphasis on giving Taiwan more space for international presence during her August visit to Taiwan, and encouraged the UN and international organizations to accept Taiwan.
TAIUNA Executive Director and Head of the UN Outreach Delegation, Huang Shuchun, stated that Taiwan’s exclusion from the UN is a significant loss for the 23 million people of Taiwan and for the UN. For example, during the previous pandemic, Taiwan donated many masks and medical facilities to the international community, contributing positively. However, China continues to suppress Taiwan in the international community.
TAIUNA Executive Director Tseng Tsung-Kai introduced during the press conference that Taiwan has never belonged to the People’s Republic of China, and they have never ruled over Taiwan. “This year, the ‘Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China’ (IPAC) held its annual meeting in Taipei, unanimously passing a resolution opposing China’s misinterpretation of UN Resolution 2758 to limit Taiwan’s international space. The Australian Senate and the Dutch Parliament also oppose China’s misinterpretation of Resolution 2758.”
The event on Friday saw many young people actively participating. Anna Tung, a doctoral student representing TAIUNA, shared her dilemma of being unable to apply for an internship with the World Health Organization (WHO) because she could not select the appropriate nationality option in the application form. This ultimately led to her giving up on the application and missing important WHO meetings.
TAIUNA Supervisor Huang Rongchun stated that China has long mistakenly claimed Taiwan as part of its territory, leading to Taiwan’s isolation and exclusion from international organizations. Therefore, he called on the UN to correct its misconceptions about Taiwan, allowing Taiwan to join international organizations with dignity, such as the World Health Assembly (WHA).
Vice President of the Greater New York Taiwanese Association Hsu Bocheng and Polish influencer Stan also attended the press conference to support the event’s demands. The “2024 TAIUNA UN Outreach Delegation” is expected to participate in various important activities during its trip to New York and Washington, including international press conferences on Resolution 2758, the KEEP Taiwan Free march, visits to Taiwan schools in Washington, and the Taiwan Democracy and International Status Forum jointly organized by the Hudson Institute and TAIUNA.