The 76th UN General Assembly will begin on September 14 at the UN Headquarters in New York. To show support for the ROC Taiwan’s UN participation, the overseas community in the southern US made a joint declaration launching a petition in support of Taiwan’s participation in the UN to convey the support of the overseas community for Taiwan’s participation in UN affairs. This activity was announced by Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston Robert Fu-Wen Lo at the 2021 National Day Activity Series Opening Ceremony and was answered by former member of the US House of representatives Pete Olsen, Stafford City deputy mayor Alice Chen and Sugar Land City councilor Carol McCutcheon.
The joint declaration is as follows:
The 76th UN General Assembly will begin on September 14 with the theme "Building Resilience through hope to recover from COVID-19, rebuild sustainably, respond to the needs of the planet, respect the rights of people, and revitalize the United Nations." The whole world needs to cooperate to meet the challenges of the post pandemic era. For the last two years, Taiwan has performed outstandingly in terms of epidemic control, supply of key materials to the world and other areas. On behalf of the overseas community of the Southern US, we call on the UN to include the ROC Taiwan as a constructive partner that can assist with achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
COVID-19 has had a disastrous social and economic impact globally. The countries of the world hope that the UN can take the lead to end the crisis. In June this year, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said that the COVID-19 pandemic had exposed the mutual weakness and connectedness of countries and said that the UN and the people of all countries need to rely on the participation of all sides. It is generally accepted that Taiwan has effectively responded to the epidemic, quickly responded to the needs of global supply chains and provided substantive assistance to its allies, proving that it can play a key role in the UN and become a constructive partner.
We call on the UN to immediately take action to resolve the situation that sees Taiwan’s 23.5 million people excluded from the UN system and allow people and media from Taiwan to enter the UN for visits, and attend or carry out interviews at meetings and activities, ensuring that Taiwan can take part in the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals equally and with dignity.
We believe that refusing a partner with the ability to make a contribution is a loss for international community. Taiwan is a power for good. Now is the time to invite Taiwan to participate in the UN and cooperate with international allies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
