China's Veto Power

Ten times in a row, China has used its UN veto power to block Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization (WH0). China has also blocked all 14 of Taiwan's bids to get into the UN. So why is it that many Taiwanese people have trouble understanding that it is China messing with them? A couple of weeks ago, I was even asked "Why does the US keep blocking Taiwan from getting into the WHO?" My interlocutor continued: "It's just like before, when the US deserted Taiwan."

The US withdrew from Taiwan at the insistence of China. This was the position the Chinese government expressed in the Shanghai Communique: "The Taiwan question is the crucial question obstructing the normalization of relations between China and the United States. The Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government of China: Taiwan is a province of China which has long been returned to the motherland; The Chinese government firmly opposes any activities which aim at the creation of one China, one Taiwan . . . . The liberation of Taiwan is China's internal affair in which no other country has the right to interfere."

When I asked my interlocutor about his info., he replied vaguely: "There are some reports in the media."


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On Costa Rica's plans to cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan, The Taipei Times ran this editorial. It discusses how Taiwan's pan-blue politicians obscure China's attempts to isolate Taiwan. I think the writer(s) makes some good points, though I think Taiwan's "journalists" are more to blame:


"According to foreign ministry officials, Costa Rica has been in close contact with China as it needs Beijing's support to realize its goal of becoming a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. Upon learning that Taiwan-Costa Rica relations might be in danger, KMT legislators, as usual, were quick to fault the DPP government. KMT Legislator John Chiang (蔣孝嚴) ridiculed the efforts of foreign ministry diplomats, perhaps thinking that his stint as a foreign minister somehow justified his criticism. However, the KMT never seems to utter a harsh word against China, which, after all, schemes incessantly to reduce Taiwan's space in the international community. Of course the administration and the foreign ministry should not be exempt from criticism. But in cases such as the ties with Costa Rica where Taiwan is clearly being set upon by China, the KMT invariably chooses to slam the government instead of aiming at the real target -- the despots in Beijing."

Taiwan is an independent state. The first reaction of patriotic Taiwanese should therefore be to denounce China's malignant suppression, not condemn their own government.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2007/06/07/2003364230