[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 136 (Friday, September 14, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1873]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       CALLING ON THE U.N. TO CONSIDER TAIWAN'S U.N. APPLICATION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. VIRGINIA FOXX

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 14, 2007

  Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, I rise today to voice my support for Taiwan 
and its application for admittance to the United Nations. It is vital 
that Congress and the Administration support our friend and ally by 
giving it the respect and dignity it deserves with a seat in the U.N. 
General Assembly.
  It is unfortunate that the Secretary General of the United Nations 
chose to reject without consideration Taiwan's application for 
membership on July 23, 2007. His unfortunate statement ``The position 
of the United Nations is that the People's Republic of China represents 
tHe whole of China as the sole and legitimate representative government 
of China,'' does not reflect the reality in the Taiwan Straits. For 
nearly 60 years there have been, two different and distinct governments 
in the People's Republic of China and Taiwan. By admitting Taiwan as a 
member of the United Nations, there would be no change to the present 
reality at play in the Taiwan Straits.
  China's claims to an internationally recognized norm of ``One China'' 
do not ring true when one reviews the status quo. The Chinese 
authorities' only actions regarding relations with Taipei are to 
intimidate and embarrass. China uses military and diplomatic threats to 
oppose Taiwan's independence and belittle those who make attempts to 
bring the issue forward. At the same time it insists Taiwan is part of 
China, and yet does nothing to assist the people of Taiwan in obtaining 
help for health, wealth or happiness.
  The Secretary General's argument that the 1971 Resolution 2758 
admitting China to the U.N. means the government in Beijing represents 
the interests of Taiwan as well is flimsy, at best. Resolution 2758 
recognized the legitimacy of the People's Republic of China as China's 
rightful representative, however, there is no authority granted to the 
People's Republic of China over the people of Taiwan. This does nothing 
to change the fact that the government in Beijing has no authority over 
the 23 million people of Taiwan and that the government of Taiwan has 
had no authority over the people of the People's Republic of China.
  The United Nations should not dismiss Taiwan's status simply as a 
matter that has been previously resolved by Resolution 2758. Taiwan's 
accession to the General Assembly will not change the current state of 
affairs in the Taiwan Strait. China makes no effort to control or 
impose its will upon Taiwan's politics or policies. Taiwan conducts 
elections, enters into trade agreements and conducts business in the 
international community on its own.
  Taiwan's admission into the U.N. will have important public health 
ramifications as well. A seat in the United Nations would help Taiwan 
secure a place in the World Health Organization. Such a development 
will reduce the likelihood that diseases such as avian flu could spread 
through Taiwan's busy ports.
  Furthermore, the idea of having dual U.N. representation of a 
[''unified''] country is not unprecedented. When a conflict such as the 
one facing Taiwan and China exists, it is in the interest of the 
international community to follow past precedent. I hope the Secretary 
General, the President and my colleagues will recall that East and West 
Germany were given two seats in the General Assembly, Belarus and 
Ukraine were given seats even as part of the Soviet Union and North and 
South Korea are each represented in the General Assembly.
  I hope this body and the Administration will stand firm and support 
U.N. membership for Taiwan.

                          ____________________