Mainland Affairs Council

Mainland Affairs Council, Executive Yuan

The promotion of Taiwan’s bid to join the United Nations (UN) and the referendum on such a bid has become a consensus among the Taiwanese people regardless of their political party affiliation and position on unification vs. independence. The Taiwanese people have taken spontaneous actions to concretely demonstrate their unswerving will to join the UN through democratic processes of proposing a bill, launching a signature campaign, and planning a referendum. The “UN for Taiwan” rally to be held tomorrow (September 15, 2007) is an action that the Taiwanese people take of their own accord as a peaceful and rational appeal regarding their protests against China, the purpose of which is to highlight that Taiwan’s long-term exclusion from the international community has been due to China’s suppression of Taiwan’s international space and that China has taken peremptory and irrational actions to threaten Taiwan’s democracy through incessant military intimidation. At the same time, the rally will give the Taiwanese people a tangible voice of their aspiration for joining the UN to the international community. The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) believes that the rally will have deep significance for solidifying consensus within Taiwan.

Over recent times, public opinion in Taiwan has repeatedly shown the people’s explicit aspiration of joining the UN, coupled with a determination to firmly safeguard Taiwan’s own democratic system and national sovereignty. The September 15 rally is the reflection of the fact that the Taiwanese people have taken the initiative in demonstrating their collective will. In consideration of the long-term development of cross-strait relations, the MAC urges that the Beijing authorities should not maliciously distort the purpose of tomorrow’s activities, nor should they attempt to adopt any irrational actions against Taiwan. China should properly understand Taiwan’s peaceful appeal to participate in the international activities and to pursue international collective security guarantees, as well as comprehend the Taiwanese people’s antipathy and resentment against China’s long-term suppression of Taiwan through military, diplomatic, and political means. The MAC urges the Chinese authorities not to be fearful of democracy and not to misjudge public opinion in Taiwan. China should immediately stop its provocative actions of militarily threatening and internationally suppressing Taiwan, and to adopt effective measures to improve cross-strait relations. Otherwise, the so-called “placing hope on the Taiwanese people” will only lead to further disappointments for China.