[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11332]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             SUPPORT TAIWAN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT GARRETT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 22, 2010

  Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, as a long-time friend of 
Taiwan, and as one of the 140 bipartisan Members of the Congressional 
Taiwan Caucus, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting an issue 
that my Taiwanese-American constituents and I care deeply about.
  During the previous Congress, I introduced H. Con. Res. 250, which 
supports Taiwan's full membership in international organizations such 
as the United Nations. To me, it seems only fair that a country with a 
population of 23 million be represented in the U.N. and its affiliated 
organizations.
  If it weren't for China's disapproval, Taiwan would likely have 
become a member of the U.N. long ago. China consistently blocks 
Taiwan's membership in the U.N. because China opposes international 
recognition of Taiwan's status as a sovereign and independent country. 
And since China is a large country, and Taiwan a small one, Taiwan's 
involvement in international organizations has become contingent upon 
Chinese approval.
  A prime example of China's influence occurred just a short while ago. 
In early April of this year, the media reported that China would permit 
Taiwan's Health Minister to attend the annual summit of the World 
Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva for the second year in a row.
  Then, in mid-April, our State Department sent a report to Congress 
supporting ``meaningful participation'' by Taiwan in the WHO. It read: 
``As we plan for the 63rd WHA [World Health Assembly] session this May, 
the U.S. welcomes the extension of WHA's invitation once again to 
Taiwan to send an observer delegation. [. . .] The invitation to attend 
the 2009 WHA was issued after the People's Republic of China agreed to 
Taiwan's participation.'' Clearly, Taiwan attended this year's summit 
only because China allowed it to do so.
  I am concerned that other countries and international organizations 
will now begin to view China as Taiwan's suzerain. If this view becomes 
the accepted international norm, Taiwan's current status as an 
independent, sovereign state will be undermined further.
  Some applaud the fact that Taiwan had any presence in this year's 
summit. I would like to point out though that, due to Chinese pressure, 
Taiwan participated under the name ``Chinese Taipei,'' even though the 
name of the country is ``Taiwan.'' Taipei is merely Taiwan's capital. 
In addition, Taiwan participated in the WHA session as a mere 
``observer.'' This meant that Taiwan's representatives did not have the 
right to vote during the weeklong meeting. Furthermore, Taiwan's 
participation was not permanent; it came under Beijing's sponsorship on 
a one-year-at-a-time basis.
  Rather than supporting ``meaningful participation,'' I believe the 
U.S. should promote Taiwan's full membership in international 
organizations such as the WHO. I therefore urge my colleagues to join 
me in supporting Taiwan's full and equal membership in the United 
Nations, the WHO, and other international organizations.

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