Taiwan ends bid for UN seat

Sep 18, 2009, 16:24 GMT

Taipei - Taiwan said Friday that it has stopped seeking the United Nations membership - and would focus instead on joining UN- related organizations.

'It is better to seek to join a practical organization rather than trying to do something which is hopeless and can cause clashes across the Taiwan Strait' Premier Wu Den-yih told parliament.

'We are seeking to join the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the United Nations Framework on Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC)' he added. 'We have begun to make effort this month.'

Taiwan and China split in 1949 when the Chinese Nationalist Government (ROC) lost the Chinese Civil War and fled to Taiwan to set up its government-in-exile.

In 1971, the United Nations expelled the ROC government and gave China's seat to Communist China, or the People's Republic of China (PRC).

In 1993, Taiwan launched an international campaign to return to the UN, but the effort has failed each year due to opposition from China which sees Taiwan as its breakaway province.

Taiwan began to review its UN campaign after President Ma Ying-jeou came to power in May 2008 and sought reconciliation with Beijing.

The 64th UN General Assembly opened in New York Tuesday to discuss a wide range of issues including financial crisis, regional conflict and climate change.

But for the first time since 1993, Taiwan has not mobilized its diplomatic allies to ask the UN General Assembly to discuss Taiwan's return to the UN, either as a full member or as an observer.

China told Taipei that so long as Taiwan accepts the 'one China' policy, Beijing was willing to discuss how to grant Taiwan more 'space' in international activities, including allowing Taiwan to join some international organizations.

After years of effort and with apparent approval from China, Taiwan joined the World Health Assembly in May this year, the stepping stone to a seat in the World Health Organization.

Taiwan is currently recognized by 23 mostly-small nations. The island hopes to maintain its status quo, improve ties with China and enjoy equal status as other sovereign states on the international stage.