[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 45 (Thursday, April 21, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 21, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                       U.N. MEMBERSHIP FOR TAIWAN

                                 ______


                           HON. NEWT GINGRICH

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 21, 1994

  Mr. GINGRICH. Mr. Speaker, As we mark the 15th anniversary of the 
passage of the Taiwan Relations Act, the legislative keystone governing 
United States relations with the people of Taiwan, it is an ideal time 
to reflect on the fact that there are still a handful of countries in 
the world that are not represented in the United Nations, and Taiwan 
(Republic of China) is one of these countries. The people and 
Government of Taiwan have expressed a strong desire to participate in 
the United Nations and its affiliated organizations.
  In the economic field, Taiwan is the 14th largest trading nation in 
the world; its gross national product is the world's 20th largest; its 
annual per capita income exceeds $10,000; it has the largest foreign 
exchange reserves world-wide at $80 billion; it is the United States' 
sixth largest trading partner. But Taiwan is not a member of the United 
Nations.
  In the field of democracy, Taiwan has begun to make exceptional 
progress in recent years towards establishing democracy and securing 
political freedoms for its people. Martial law was lifted, political 
prisoners were released, improvements were made allowing the people of 
Taiwan to exercise more basic freedoms. But again, Taiwan is not a 
member of the United Nations.
  Despite this economic and political progress and despite the people 
of Taiwan's wish to be recognized, Taiwan has never been represented in 
the United Nations as a country. This gross lack of international 
recognition has left 21 million voices unheard in world affairs.
  Despite the possibility of China's threat of using its veto power, 
the past and current United Nations practices concerning the parallel 
representation for the two Germanys and the two Koreas have set a 
useful and important precedent for both sides of the Taiwan Straits to 
be represented in the United Nations respectively.
  Mr. Speaker, the fact remains that 21 million residents of free and 
democratic Taiwan are not represented in the United Nations clearly 
goes against the United Nations principle of universal representation. 
With Taiwan's ever increasing economic and political importance, the 
argument which was used for China over 20 years ago must be applied to 
Taiwan's current bid to enter the United Nations; Taiwan must now join 
the United Nations to strengthen the authority and prestige of the 
United Nations.

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