U.S. expert praises Taiwan bid to enter 2 U.N. bodies

Glaser, who was speaking during an interview on Monday, was referring to Taiwan's bid this week for access to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the International Civil Aviation Organization.

Glaser has long called for Taiwan to seek membership at U.N.-affiliated bodies rather than try fruitlessly to join the U.N. itself. She made the comment in response to Taiwan's announcement earlier Monday that it would seek access to the two U.N. organizations instead of making a pitch for a seat at the U.N. this year, unlike previous years.

Noting that Taiwan gained observership at the World Health Organization in 2009 after 12 failed attempts in more than a decade, Glaser said she hopes that it will not be such a prolonged struggle for Taiwan to make progress in joining the two U.N. organizations.

However, she said, discussion with China on the issue is essential, since Taiwan cannot achieve its goals without Beijing's acquiescence.

Beijing's position has been that as long as Taiwan's quest for greater international space is not aimed at directly challenging China's “one China” principle and is not aimed at promoting independence, that the matter can be discussed, she said. Under China's “one China” principle, it defines Taiwan as a part of China.

Glaser said she believed China should give Taiwan's bid favorable consideration as granting Taiwan greater international space is one of the ways that Beijing can express its goodwill to the Taiwanese people and win over their hearts and minds.

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