[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23405]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           TAIWAN'S BID FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE UNITED NATIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PETER T. KING

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 25, 2003

  Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of 
Taiwan's bid for membership in the United Nations (U.N.).
  For the 32nd consecutive year, the U.N. convenes its annual General 
Assembly without the membership of Taiwan and once again its 23 million 
citizens will be denied a voice in vitally important global matters. 
Although Taiwan has long been a significant player in world affairs 
with a GNP and population larger than three quarters of U.N. member 
countries, it has repeatedly been denied membership.
  The transformation of Taiwan from an impoverished State into an 
industrial powerhouse, and from a one-party dictatorship into a multi-
party democracy, is among the most impressive economic and political 
marvels of our time. Free and fair elections are held at all levels of 
government. Taiwan's constitution guarantees its citizens freedom of 
assembly, freedom of expression, freedom of religion, freedom of the 
press and it is a strong supporter of human rights.
  Already, Taiwan is an active participant in international 
organizations as exemplified by its membership in the Asian Development 
Bank, its admission as a full member to the Asia-Pacific Economic 
Cooperation (APEC) group, and its membership in the World Trade 
Organization (WTO).
  Taiwan has also used its successes to become an active contributor to 
international humanitarian efforts. It has made significant donations 
to countries devastated by natural disasters and war including relief 
efforts in Kosovo, Afghanistan, Turkey, and Iraq, to name a few. Taiwan 
is well prepared and quite willing to actively support U.N. endeavors.
  Furthermore, it is not uncommon to have parallel representation of 
divided countries in the U.N. such as the case of East and West Germany 
before German reunification in 1990. This type of representation 
currently exists with respect to the membership of both the Democratic 
People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea.
  By large margins, both Houses of Congress have endorsed Taiwan's 
desire for participation in the United Nations. Taiwan, a country 
seeking peace and stability in its region, deserves the right to 
membership in the United Nations.

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