The growing international discussion surrounding United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 has intensified in recent weeks. China has broadened its interpretation of the resolution, effectively excluding Taiwan from participation in the UN system. This has triggered pushback from the global community, including the Dutch Parliament and U.S. officials. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell recently criticized China for using the resolution to assert Taiwan’s illegitimacy in the United Nations. In response, various countries have voiced their support for Taiwan, with Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung urging the international community to reevaluate Taiwan’s unjust treatment under this resolution.
Dutch Member of Parliament Sjoerd Sjoerdsma (September 12) remarked, “Resolution 2758 has cut off Taiwan from the international community. It is time for democratic nations to stand in solidarity with Taiwan.” The Dutch Parliament passed a resolution in September calling on the government to seek EU support against China’s distorted interpretation of UNGA 2758. Similar calls have emerged in Australia, and Campbell reaffirmed U.S. opposition to China’s claims, stating, “The resolution did mention Chiang Kai-shek but did not address Taiwan’s status. China has misused the resolution as a diplomatic tool to assert Taiwan’s illegitimacy.”
In 1971, the UN passed Resolution 2758, recognizing the People’s Republic of China as the “only legitimate representative of China to the United Nations.” This decision expelled Chiang Kai-shek’s representatives from the UN. The resolution has been at the heart of Taiwan’s exclusion from the UN for over 50 years. Now, with rising international support, Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung is seizing the moment, publishing an op-ed that calls on the UN to reject China’s false narrative and decouple Resolution 2758 from the “One China” principle. Lin urged a reconsideration of Taiwan’s unfair treatment under the resolution, a sentiment echoed by Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and opposition Kuomintang (KMT), which has introduced its own proposal for Taiwan’s reentry into the UN as the “Republic of China.”
Former Professor of Political Science at National Taiwan Normal University, Chiu Chao-hsiang, offered a cautious perspective, suggesting that while European nations are signaling their dissatisfaction with China, they may not necessarily achieve their goal of securing Taiwan’s reentry into the UN. “This resolution has become a tool in geopolitical power struggles, particularly between Europe and China,” Chiu noted. He further explained that the upcoming UN General Assembly is drawing attention to Resolution 2758, as it could mark a new phase in Taiwan’s fight for international recognition. However, the likelihood of Taiwan’s full reentry remains uncertain, as geopolitical forces continue to shape the conversation.
As global tensions rise and the UN Assembly approaches, the fate of Taiwan’s status within the UN is not only a matter of legal interpretation but a crucial element in the evolving geopolitics of the region. China has distorted Resolution 2758, while Taiwan, a country that has made significant contributions to the global community, faces increasing aggression from China. There is a call for the United Nations not to allow Taiwan to become an orphan on the international stage.