Five more leaders of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies have spoken up to support Taiwan’s inclusion in the United Nations system at the U.N. General Assembly (UNGA) on Saturday, namely, St. Lucia, Eswatini, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Haiti and Tuvalu.
So far, 12 of Taiwan’s 15 diplomatic allies worldwide have spoken out on behalf of Taiwan in the UNGA, tying last year’s record.
In his pre-recorded address, St. Lucian Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre said his country continued to plead the case to advance Taiwan’s cause to be accepted as a “legitimate participant” in the global decision-making process.
Eswatini Prime Minister Cleopas Dlamini, meanwhile, said the exclusion of Taiwan from the U.N. and the discrimination of its citizens in a system meant to serve international citizens, is a “gross violation of the unshakeable principles of the U.N. Charter.”
The African kingdom again urged the U.N. to consider the participation of Taiwan in the World Health Organization, International Civil Aviation Organization and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
“With this inclusion of Taiwan, it is our hope that the U.N. will be living up to its objectives and equally serving the interests of all its member states,” he said.
He continued to praise Taiwan for the medical assistance it gives to Eswatini amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Calling Taiwan an “indispensable partner,” Dlamini said Taiwan would play a meaningful role in the global body if given an opportunity.
Prime minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, pointed out in his address that Taiwan’s inclusion in international multi-lateral cooperation organization on matters such as health, climate change, civil aviation and crime, will benefit the world.
“Taiwan is a relatively small, but legitimate, political expression of the magnificent Chinese civilization; it has been an impressive economic miracle; it is a thriving democracy; and it has a right to ask for meaningful inclusion in the relevant global institutions. New times demand fresh solutions, not old-fashioned hegemonic responses,” he added.
On his part, Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry concluded by calling all U.N. members to consider Taiwan’s inclusion in the system.
Taiwan wants and can play a non-negligible role in the initiatives of the U.N., to promote peace, security and cooperation around the globe, he added.
Under the same vein, Tuvalu Prime Minister Kausea Natano called for the recognition of the rights of the people of Taiwan to the U.N. premises.
It is “most regrettable” to see the ongoing injustice of Taiwanese people being barred from accessing U.N. premises for visits and meetings simply because the U.N. fails to recognize Taiwan passports, he pointed out.
“Granting Taiwanese passport holders’ access to U.N. premises is an essential step for the meaningful participation of Taiwan and the Taiwanese people in the U.N. system,” Natano said.
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin was the only representative of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies who did not mention Taiwan in his Saturday’s address in UNGA.
Being Taiwan’s only diplomatic ally in Europe, the Holy See is not a member of the U.N., but an observer and rarely speaks on political issues during the U.N. related meetings.
The nation’s Central American ally Nicaragua is expected to speak on the last day of the General Debate on Monday.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel
