[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 131 (Tuesday, September 23, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1867]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  READMIT TAIWAN TO THE UNITED NATIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 23, 2003

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, as the United Nations General Assembly 
convenes for its 58th session this week, I remind my colleagues that 
the Republic of China on Taiwan--a free and open democratic society and 
a leading trade partner of the U.S.--is still being denied membership 
to that world body. It is time for the U.N. to readmit Taiwan.
  Taiwan not only has a thriving democracy and prosperous economy, but 
its 23 million people make it larger than three quarters of the 
existing member states of the U.N. It is hard to conceive of any good 
reason to continue denying such a worthy country admission to this 
vitally important world body.
  There exists now, and has existed before, examples of parallel 
representation of the countries in the U.N. I speak now of East and 
West Germany which both held memberships in the U.N. until their 
reunification in 1990. Today both the Democratic People's Republic of 
Korea and the Republic of Korea are members of the United Nations.
  Taiwan is not only a free and open democracy, a bulwark for human 
rights and an important player in our global economy, but it is a good 
neighbor to countries in need around the world. Time and time again, 
Taiwan has heeded calls by the U.N. and others for emergency assistance 
to countries suddenly fallen victims to natural disasters or war. Among 
others, it has assisted Afghanistan, Kosovo, Turkey, Nicaragua, El 
Salvador, the fight against aids in Africa, and the current relief 
needs of Iraq.
  The 23 million people of this country--who have demonstrated in 
nearly every way imaginable that they are responsible citizens of the 
world--deserve a voice at the U.N.

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