Taiwan’s push for UN membership given fresh impetus by former defence minister
Non-governmental Taiwan United Nations Alliance urges island’s diplomatic allies to lobby UN secretary general
Taiwan’s push to join the United Nations was on the back-burner for the eight years of the Ma Ying-jeou administration but has come back to life this year in a campaign spearheaded by a former defence minister.
Observers said Beijing would be dismayed by Taiwan’s move, but the renewed push would not significantly worsen already strained cross-strait ties.
Ahead of a series of high-level meetings to be held in New York later this week, Michael Tsai Ming-hsien, a former minister in the Chen Shui-bian government, has been trying to drum up support for Taiwan’s bid to join the international body.
We hope that she will be more courageous in going out there to strengthen Taiwan’s international participation
Tsai leads the Taiwan United Nations Alliance and has sought to promote the cause by holding talks with US senators and former government officials.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also asked Taipei’s diplomatic allies to send a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, asking him to consider accepting Taiwan as a new UN member. Such requests were stopped during the Ma’s term at the top.
The moves signal Taiwan’s more active pursuit of international participation under its new president, Tsai Ing-wen.
