Chen’s 3rd letter to United Nations also returned

The resolution states that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is the only “legitimate representative of China” at the U.N.

President Chen’s last letter was addressed to Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, president of the 61st session of the General Assembly, and was sent through the intermediary of the permanent representative of the Marshall Islands to the U.N. a few days ago, said officials from the MOFA.

In the letter, it was reported that President Chen claimed that Taiwan is not a part of China and that resolution 2758 does not take into account U.N. representation of people in Taiwan.

The two previous letters were sent to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on July 19 and July 31, but were also returned to Taipei based on interpreting the same resolution, which stipulates that the U.N. only recognizes “one China.”

“We are still confident however that Beijing will not push for a vote at this [62nd session of the] U.N. General Assembly on whether Taiwan belongs to China,” said Wang.

Meanwhile, officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) also announced that prior to the opening of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, 16 of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies have already thrown their support behind Taiwan’s bid to enter the U.N.

Before the U.N. Assembly opens on Sept. 18, its General Committee will still have to decide whether the proposal by Taiwan’s diplomatic allies to discuss the island’s participation in the U.N. can be added as a supplementary item on the meeting’s agenda.

In this context, Shieh Jhy-wei, director of the Government Information Office and spokesman for the government departed for the United States that afternoon to help promote the country’s first U.N. bid under the name of Taiwan.

He will participate in a protest march in New York City with Taiwanese expatriates this Saturday, while at the same time a protest will be held in the southern city of Kaohsiung. President Chen Shui-bian and Frank Hsieh, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s candidate in the next presidential election, are both expected to take part in the event, which will be broadcast simultaneously in New York.

Also, David Wang said that Taipei would like to thank Washington’s longtime support for Taiwan’s democracy, even though the U.S. has refused to endorse its U.N. bid.

“The U.S.-Taiwan relationship is one of different levels,” said Wang. “At the international level, there are some restrictions but on the other hand there is also room for cooperation between the two countries on other levels.”

On Sept. 6, following the meeting between U.S. President George W. Bush and Chinese President Hu Jintao on the eve of the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference summit, President Bush refrained from directly criticizing President Chen’s U.N. initiatives, while Hu said that the United States opposes any changes in the status quo.

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