Under President Ma Ying-jeou’s concept of “modus vivendi” diplomatic strategy and a “diplomatic truce” with China, Taiwan made a fundamental shift in its U.N. campaign this year by asking the U.N. General Assembly to consider Taiwan’s “meaningful participation” in U.N. specialized agencies instead of seeking full membership in the world body as it has done unsuccessfully in previous years.

Ou said that the more moderate and pragmatic approach has received a very good response from the international community and that he believes the bid will win more support during the Sept. 16 U.N. General Assembly.

However the fate of Taiwan’s new initiative hinges on China’s attitude. Ou said that even though he cannot predict whether China will let the bid be included on the U.N. agenda given the fact that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have not yet negotiated the issue, he still hopes Beijing will give it a green light.

“Although the two sides have not discussed the issue, I think there is the need to negotiate with China on the matter, “ Ou said.

“I hope that the issue of Taiwan’s international space can be included in cross-strait talks as soon as possible, “ he added, saying that economic negotiations between Taipei and Beijing, for example, under the framework of the World Trade Organization, will inevitably tap the issue of Taiwan’s international space.

Talks between Taiwan and China re opened June 11 for the first time in 10 years, involving Taiwan’s quasi-official Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) and its Chinese counterpart, the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS). The two sides agreed to focus on economic and trade issues in the beginning, setting aside political issues such as sovereignty and Taiwan’s international space.

The fresh approach by the government for the country’s participation to the U.N. is seen as the first crucial test for Ma’s diplomacy, which has been criticized by the opposition as giving up Taiwan’s sovereignty.

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