Long March to the U.N.

The unanimous decision was as unusual as this year’s application, which for the first time, was made under the name Taiwan instead of the island’s official title — the Republic of China. To change the country’s official appellation is unusual, because it contravenes the Constitution. It also runs counter to President Chen Shui-bian’s “four noes” pledge to keep the island’s status quo.

President Chen, it goes without saying, received a lot of publicity for his innovative plan to promote Taiwan in the world arena by challenging the “One China” policy of the United States and the United Nations. If Taiwan gained membership, it would mean the recognition of Taiwan’s sovereignty and statehood.

It was not surprising that Washington and the United Nations stood firm against the move. What was surprising was the “consensus” decision on Wednesday. It must be an embarrassment for Chen, who has many friends in the United States, including Bob Dole, the former Senate majority leader and the GOP’s presidential candidate in the 1996 elections. Sen. Dole, whose law firm represents Taiwan’s interests in the United States, appealed on the eve of Wednesday’s vote in a passionate article in the Wall Street Journal, calling for support of Taiwan’s U.N. membership and for Taiwan’s national referendum on the same issue next March. He criticizes Washington and other “big powers” for discouraging the island’s “quest for de jure international recognition for de facto sovereignty.”

Mr. Dole’s appeal, apparently, fell onto deaf ears. The outcome was on the wall for everybody to see even before Wednesday’s vote, because the bid stood no chance of success at all considering Beijing’s veto power and its 160-odd diplomatic friends in the world body, compared to Taiwan’s 24 diplomatic allies in the U.N. President Chen knows more than anybody else about the outcome, but he was insisting on his bid for no other credible reason than to further his cause of Taiwan independence, as well as make himself into a native hero who “loves Taiwan.”

In this sense, Chen was by no means a loser. He has shown his supporters that he dared to challenge the big powers and he did not blink before Beijing — a bully and enemy. The defeat could mean more votes for his pro-independence party, which faces two crucial elections in six months, including the presidential poll next March.

The farce played out before the world has put the opposition Kuomintang in an awkward situation. The KMT feels compelled to dance to the DPP’s music, by staging its own campaign to re-join the United Nations, using the name ROC. The ROC, after all, was a founding member of the U.N. in 1945, and one of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council until October 1971, when the General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758 to transfer the U.N. seat from Taipei to Beijing.

The KMT has been ridiculed for mimicking the DPP in every major political initiative, including such crucial issues as the U.N. bid and what the United States has branded an “ill-conceived” plan to hold a national referendum on U.N. membership under the name Taiwan. Apparently out of electoral considerations, the opposition KMT has chosen to follow, rather than oppose, the DPP’s move for fear of losing votes.

Taiwan’s 23 million people do not deserve U.N. membership. They should gain membership to have their voice heard and to contribute to the world organization. But there are issues more important than the U.N. bid, which is a non-starter in the first place. The KMT should have the courage to initiate campaign issues of its own, issues that concern the public interest. The U.N. membership is important, to be sure, but it is not everything. Switzerland is not a U.N. member, for instance. It is rich and prosperous.

Politicians focus on short-range gain, while statesmen have visions for the future. Taiwan needs visionary leaders who place national interests above those of their own. Taiwan under the KMT’s Chiang Ching-kuo created a miracle that had been the envy of the world, without being a member of the United Nations. Today’s KMT leaders should not forget their party’s glorious past and the ideals of their inspirational leader. Chiang Ching-kuo would squirm in his grave if he saw what his comrades and successors are doing today. He would tell his followers: Be yourself; imitation won’t make your party great.

True leaders are able to face political realities and make the right choice. Taiwan’s U.N. bid, initiated in 1993 when Lee Teng-hui was in power, was a political move to deceive the people. The hidden purpose was to promote the cause of Taiwan independence, a political legacy that was passed to Chen Shui-bian, the “son of Taiwan” from the “father of Taiwan.” Lee told Taiwan’s people in 1993, through the Foreign Ministry, that the bid would be adopted by the U.N. in three years and passed in five years.

Now, 15 years has elapsed and the bid has become more hopeless than ever. Yes, Taiwan can keep trying next year and every year “to let the world know the absurdity” of the issue. But is it wise to do so when there are more pressing issues at home? Taiwan’s future leader, be the DPP’s Frank Hsieh or the KMT’s Ma Ying-jeou, should ponder the question seriously.

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