From The Wall Street Journal, via The View from Taiwan:
… It is already a full and productive member of international organizations such as the World Trade Organization and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. It has never been a province or part of the local government of the People’s Republic of China. Taiwan’s recent transformation into a modern democratic state supersedes any decades-old determination that gives the PRC a United Nations seat — even as the U.N. failed to determine that Taiwan is part of the PRC or bestow upon it the right to represent Taiwan.
Taiwan’s political case for U.N. membership is equally strong. It is the 48th most populous country in the world. Its economy is the world’s 16th largest. Its gross national product totals $366 billion, or $16,098 per capita. With $267 billion in foreign exchange reserves, it is one of the world’s three largest creditor states. Taiwan is therefore poised to be a significant contributor to the U.N.’s operations and play a constructive role in the organization. [Full Text]
Bob Dole, a former Senate majority leader and the Republican candidate for president in 1996, is special counsel to Alston & Bird.
