Since losing its seat to the PRC in 1971, Taiwan has made annual attempts to rejoin the UN. President Chen Shui Bian has announced that Taiwan will hold a referendum with its 2008 presidential elections on whether it should join the UN under the name “Taiwan.” Although such a referendum is more symbolic than anything, and would not do much to actually win a seat, Chen’s plan has been met with strong discouragement from the US, let alone China. From Seattlepi.com:
Taiwan will proceed with a planned referendum on rejoining the United Nations under its own name, an official said Wednesday, despite strong objections to the move from China and the United States…
Even if the referendum passes, however, Taiwanese membership would still need to be approved by the General Assembly with the recommendation of the Security Council – a virtual impossibility considering China’s veto-wielding seat on the council and the wide backing for its “one China” policy among General Assembly members. [Full text]
See also U.S. Opposes Taiwan’s Referendum Bid for UN Membership from the People’s Daily Online.
