The Chinese Communist Party has distorted the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 in 1971, falsely linking the resolution with the “One China Principle,” attempting to limit Taiwan’s international participation space and further internalize the situation in the Taiwan Strait. However, for the first time, a group of Latin American parliamentarians have come together to voice their opposition.
Nineteen parliamentarians from Panama, Colombia, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay issued a joint statement on the 2nd, announcing their intention to each push through resolutions in their respective national parliaments. The content of these resolutions aims to emphasize that the UN Resolution 2758 does not establish the “One China Principle” in international law but mainly affirms the right of the People’s Republic of China to represent “China” at the United Nations. It also highlights that there are no legal details that would hinder Taiwan’s participation in international organizations.
Additionally, the resolutions that the parliamentarians intend to pass will also emphasize that the UN Resolution 2758 is not related to the autonomous choices made by each country regarding their relationship with Taiwan. It will also mention the 23.5 million people in Taiwan who are unable to effectively participate in UN agencies, a problem that needs to be addressed promptly.
According to the statement, the parliamentarians will push through resolutions in their respective parliaments to support Taiwan’s right to participate in the UN system, which is just the first step in countering Beijing’s distortion and misuse of UN Resolution 2758.
The Latin American parliamentarians who signed the joint statement are members of the “Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China” (IPAC), known for their firm stance against Beijing. IPAC currently has 290 members from 43 countries and regional parliaments worldwide.
Centa Rek Lopez, co-chair of IPAC in Bolivia and a parliamentarian, described the statement as a “historic milestone” for Latin America. It marks the first collective declaration by parliamentarians from across Latin America stating that UN Resolution 2758 does not sever Taiwan’s right to participate in the UN system or determine the future of the Taiwanese people.
Lopez emphasized that the joint statement shows that Latin America will not remain silent when fundamental issues such as freedom, democracy, and representation are at stake.
Manuel Cohen, co-chair of IPAC in Panama, told the media that the purpose of the IPAC statement is to prevent unfair external interventions in the sovereignty of Latin American countries. Every country has the right to independently decide its relationship with Taiwan. The statement also stresses the need to swiftly address the issue of the 23.5 million people in Taiwan lacking representation in the UN system.
The joint statement points out that UN Resolution 2758 does not establish the sovereignty of the People’s Republic of China over Taiwan or make decisions about Taiwan’s future status in the United Nations. It also does not determine Taiwan’s participation in UN agencies and other international organizations.
Cohen stated that the cooperation among parliamentarians to promote implementation is about fostering a more inclusive international order based on rights, democracy, and global cooperation.