I missed this news last week, but am not surprised by the result. The United Nations rejected Taiwan’s application to become a member nation for the 15th time since Taiwan has been expelled from the U.N. and has tried to re-
apply, as mentioned in The San Jose Mercury’s article “UN rejects Taiwan’s application.” :
The self-ruled island applied on July 19 to join the United Nations as Taiwan—a departure from 14 previous post-1971 applications to become a member as the Republic of China. The bid reflected the policies of President Chen Shui-bian, who favors making the island’s de facto independence permanent.”
This of course angered the People’s Republic of China (mainland China), which received entry into the United Nations at the Republic of China’s (Taiwan) expense in 1971. The reality however is that Taiwan has been functioning as an independent nation since its rejection from the U.N. and has a thriving economy with its own currency, native Taiwanese language, history, and self-elected democratic government. This week’s KQED’s Pacific Time program interviews the Taiwanese heavy metal band ChthoniC that is promoting Taiwan’s bid for U.N. recognition as it tours the US as part of Ozzfest. You can listen to the interview here (MP3). I wrote about this previously in this post: Ozzy Osbourne to help Taiwan in U.N. membership quest.
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10 Comments to “15 Years of Rejections: UN rejects Taiwan’s application”
Akrypti wrote:
Even my parents, who are die-hard pro-independence, have begun to lose their hope that someday Taiwan will be independent. I still keep hoping, but the odds don’t look good for us at all. *sniff*
Posted on 03-Aug-07 at 5:15 am | Permalink
Jesse! wrote:
Wait, the PRC was mad that Taiwan applied or was rejected? I’m inclined to think the former, but the PRC gov’ment is weird so I could be wrong…
Posted on 03-Aug-07 at 10:22 am | Permalink
marc wrote:
did you know that your url is blocked in the prc?
http://www.greatfirewallofchina.org/
Posted on 03-Aug-07 at 4:25 pm | Permalink
jozjozjoz wrote:
Akrypti: We must never lose hope! To be totally cliche… if we lose hope, then the odds will be even worse!
Jesse: PRC is angered that Taiwan applied. Anything that Taiwan does that is not in line with “Taiwan is a province of China” (*pleh* *patooey* can’t believe I even typed that) angers China.
To the PRC this application to the UN is a double-threat: Firstly, Taiwan seeks to receive recognition as an entity separate from the PRC. Secondly, Taiwan seeks this recognition not as (the confusing but at least marginally tied to China name of) “The Republic of China” but as “Taiwan.”
The more Taiwan seeks to distinguish itself from China, the angrier the PRC gets. It means that Taiwan is inching closer and closer to declaring independence, which China will not accept quietly.
Posted on 04-Aug-07 at 9:25 am | Permalink
Akrypti wrote:
Hahaha, aw, Joz, that *IS* cliche.
The problem right now is much bigger than independence now. Okay, let’s assume that today, Taiwan is an independent nation. You don’t think China will put immense pressure on the rest of the world to not recognize Taiwan? In this globalized society, Taiwan cannot possibly sustain its economy without strong international relations, and few countries dare offend China because almost every country now relies on China economically.
It’s really tough. =/
Posted on 04-Aug-07 at 9:43 am | Permalink
jozjozjoz wrote:
Akypti:
I believe you are stating the situation as it is now. Taiwan FUNCTIONS as an independent nation (own government, own money, own dialect, etc) and China DOES put immense pressure on the rest of the world not to recognize Taiwan.
Yes, we live in a globalized world and Taiwan would face many difficulties if it did indeed declare independence. I think one problem is that the entire world is letting China get away with bullying other nations. Because no one wants to “offend” China, the global marketplace has allowed China to do whatever it wants, however it wants. Instead of asking China to play by the existing rules of the “global sandbox,” China has gone around stomping on everyone else’s sandcastles.
No doubt Taiwan is an easy target: it’s within easy kicking distance and it’s small enough for China to stomp on.
Unless Taiwan continues to try to receive international support, Taiwan WILL get stomped on. Regardless of whether or not Taiwan declares independence, Taiwan NEEDS to continue doing international outreach, otherwise it is completely vulnerable.
Posted on 05-Aug-07 at 10:17 pm | Permalink
John wrote:
Marc – yes, I know that http://www.8asians.com is blocked. I tried accessing it while I was in Beijing in July.
Posted on 05-Aug-07 at 10:24 pm | Permalink
Akrypti wrote:
8Asians is blocked in China?
……
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Posted on 06-Aug-07 at 7:06 am | Permalink
Xxxtine wrote:
8Asians blocked in China is the height of irony.
Ah, the world is a funny funny place. Laugh cosmos laugh.
Posted on 06-Aug-07 at 7:29 am | Permalink
jozjozjoz wrote:
Well, my personal blog is blocked in China, too.
One too many rants in favor of Taiwanese independence, I guess.
Posted on 06-Aug-07 at 2:26 pm | Permalink
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