It came as no surprise when on Monday the United Nations Office
of Legal Affairs returned the application signed by Chen Shuibian
for Taiwan to become a UN member under its own.
The reason is obvious: The world body has no reason to accept as
a member an island that has no sovereignty and is part of the
People's Republic of China (PRC). UN Resolution 2758, adopted in
1971, made it quite clear that the government of the PRC is the
sole legitimate government of China.
Another fact is that 169 countries have diplomatic relations
with China and all acknowledge there is only one China in the world
and Taiwan is a part of it.
It is ludicrous for Taiwan's authorities to make any attempt to
seek independence as a sovereign state.
There is no legal basis for them to do so, as the island has
been part of China for centuries and never been an independent
sovereign state. It is because of this undeniable fact that the
United Nations and the majority countries stick to the one-China
policy on the question of Taiwan.
It is not difficult to see through the trick Chen Shuibian has
been playing since he became leader of the island in 2000. Under
his governance, Taiwan's economy is deteriorating and so is its
social development. His reputation has also been tarnished by
scandals about corruption involving his family.
"Taiwan Independence" has become a card he tries to play to
provoke the mainland with a view to creating a crisis across the
Taiwan Straits, which he hopes will divert the island people's
attention from his corrupt government and the mess his incapability
as leader has created.
With the ulterior motive of maintaining his position as leader
he has tried to promote "Taiwan Independence" at the expense of its
political stability and the well-being of its people.
Closer contact and cooperation across the Straits in recent
years have benefited people on both sides. Anyone of vision should
be aware of the fact that closer contact and final reunification
with the motherland is where the future of the island lies.
But this has made Chen restless, fearing the trend will ruin his
political ambition. That also explains why he is making all the
attempts he can to seek "independence".
But his move against the will of the people is surely
doomed.
(China Daily July 25, 2007)
