Dear Friends of Taiwan: Peace, Joy, and Grace be with you!
A moral and spiritual organization in Taiwan called “United Nations for Taiwan” every year sends a team of great purpose known as “UN for Taiwan Delegation” to visit New York and Washington. The goal of its New York visit is to call for the United Nations to apply UN’s sacred principle of Universality of Membership, urging that world body to approve Taiwan Government its application to be a member of the United Nations, a goal shared by all people on Taiwan. The application has been denied because of PRC China’s objection and a recurrent visit to UN once a year becomes essential. Their visit to Washington is to keep intimate dialogue with US Congress and the Think Tank; in addition, it also holds a prayer event strategically maneuvering moral and spiritual principle on top of Taiwan’s national interest.
This year the prayer event is to be held on Tuesday, September 11, 2018 beginning 4:30 p.m. and ending 7:00 p.m. at The Twin Oaks Garden雙橡園. The Twin Oaks Garden is a famous scenery in the nation’s capital, located at 3225 Woodley Road, NW, Washington, DC. 20008 (Metro Stop: Red Line, Woodley Park Station). Free dinner is to be offered for all participants. You are invited to participate. Please invite your friends to join with you.
For security concern, the Embassy requests that all participants are required to be pre-registered and at the gate of the building to show credible identification such as school attendance ID or driver’s license. Please register now sending your registration slip to Rev. Eric Forsyth, Gilbert Wang, or Rev. Dr. Yatang Chuang.
For further information, kindly call Rev. Eric Forsyth (240-474-2950) or Gilbert Wang, (202) 413-4235.
王能祥 敬邀
NENG-HSIANG WANG
September 2, 2018
>>>>>>>>> Please cut off the slip below, if you want to attend the event >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
An Open Letter of 「23 million Taiwanese people should be included into the United Nations (UN)」
FROM: The Taiwan United Nations Alliance (TAIUNA) The Citizens of Taiwan
TO: The Honorable Dr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the UN; and The Honorable Representatives of all Member States in the UN
For the past 25 years, Taiwan has been and is, once again, knocking on UN’s door seeking membership and a seat in this global intergovernmental organization. As part of the greater world population, the 23 million people of Taiwan is without representation and have been unjustly excluded since 1971.
A. Resolution 2758 (1971) Settled The Matter Over Only Representation of China and Is Inapplicable to Exclude Taiwan Although the Republic of China (ROC) joined the UN as a founding member in 1945, it ceased to exist in China since 1949 and has occupied Taiwan until this day. In 1971, Resolution 2758 was passed to correct the historical wrong that kept ROC's seat over representation of China and restored it to the People's Republic of China (PRC). Resolution 2758 in effect expelled "the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from the place which they unlawfully occupy at the United Nations," but did not grant PRC the right to represent the people of Taiwan, nor does it recognize China's claim over Taiwan. As Resolution 2758 was declared over 40 years ago the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek no longer exist and since the Resolution made no mention of Taiwan, Taiwan was therefore not subject to Resolution 2758, thus is inapplicable to cite Resolution 2758 as a mean to exclude Taiwan from the UN.
B. PRC Never Exercised Control Over Taiwan Since Its Inception Since the inception of PRC on October 1, 1949, it has never ruled over Taiwan in any way for even a day. Despite China’s constant attempts for hostile takeover and false claim of Taiwan as a renegade province that "must be united with the mainland by force if necessary", Taiwan has consistently maintained military defense to thwart off China's constant threat and has advanced herself as one of the most democratic country in Asia. In 2016, Taiwan ranks 33rd in the Democracy Index by The Economist while China ranked far behind at 136th. Even without UN's recognition, Taiwan thrives in democracy, economic prosperity, human rights, and civil liberty as a de facto independent sovereign. - 2 -
C. Taiwan's Self-Determination is Consistent with Spirit of UN Charter Chapter 1, Article 1, part 2 states that purpose of the UN Charter is: "To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace." The people of Taiwan have expressed clear desire for equal representation and participation rights in the international community. Back in 2008 a national referendum held on March 22 showed that more than 5.8 million voters, which represents 94% of the total ballots, support Taiwan to join the UN. Furthermore, in 2017 opinion polls conducted by Taiwan Opinion Poll Foundation revealed 84.8% Taiwanese polled support Taiwan’s bid in joining the UN. Taiwanese people can no longer stand to be neglected by UN sanctioned international communities. The continual exclusion of the democratic and independent nation of Taiwan and her people from the UN clearly contradicts the UN Charter.
D. As A Dominant Member In International Arena, Taiwanese People Have Contributed In Multiple Areas In many ways Taiwan is a significant contributor in the international community. Taiwan is the 5th largest economy in Asia, ranks 15th in the world by the Global Competitiveness Report of World Economic Forum, and ranks 18th in the world by gross domestic product (GDP). Taiwan has contributed over $6 Billion dollars to international health, benefiting more than 80 countries since 1996, and has been making significant medical breakthroughs to share with the world. Taiwan has supplied generously with aid and emergency relief to poorer nations and has contributed to the building of a more secure and stable world. According to Bloomberg’s global innovation survey, Taiwan ranks 10th in the overall ability to innovate globally, and in the 4th in Asia. Taiwan's 23 million people constitute a population larger than two-thirds of UN member states. When the world faces crisis and needs humanitarian aid, Taiwan is always there at the front line, providing relief to Afghan refugees, AIDS prevention to Africa, dispatching rescue team to earthquake struck zones. The continual exclusion of Taiwan from the UN is unjust and must be rectified.
Conclusion Keeping Taiwan fully involved in the UN facilitates cross-strait dialogue, cross-strait stability, and cross-strait peace between Taiwan and China. The right of Taiwan to fully participate in the international community should not be restricted by China’s political ambition. Inclusion of Taiwan will help stabilize the entire Asia-Pacific region and making the United Nation a much more representative body. It has been over 40 years since Taiwan was excluded from UN, it is time for UN to opens its door and offers Taiwan a seat.
Dr. Michael Tsai, JD, ESQ. President, Board of Directors, Taiwan United Nations Alliance
Rev. William Lo (M.Th.) The Secretary-Generals, Taiwan United Nations Allianc