Foreign Policy of the Republic of China

As of August 2018, 17 states support diplomatic relations with the Republic of China ^[1] . Below is a list of these states.

Taiwan essentially carries out diplomatic relations with many other countries of the world through its so-called. economic and cultural representations (in fact, embassies).

Notes

1. ↑ Broke relations on July 21, 2002 , restore relations on May 14, 2005
2. ↑ Broke relations December 7, 1985 , restore relations November 6, 1990
3. ↑ Separated on September 1, 1997 , restored relations on April 30, 2007

The Republic of China for many years has been actively seeking membership in the UN, as in other international organizations. Since 1993 , Taipei annually submits an application for joining the UN with the support of a number of countries, its diplomatic allies. But never before have these efforts been successful. Given the fact that many countries refuse to recognize the independence of the Republic of China in favor of the PRC (Malawi, Costa Rica, Grenada, Liberia, Vanuatu, Chad, Dominica, Senegal), the probability of recognition by the UN is gradually decreasing.

The Republic of China was one of the founding countries of the United Nations (along with the United States , the Soviet Union , Great Britain and France ). But in 1971 , after the adoption, under pressure from the PRC, of ​​the UN resolution on the " right of representation of China, " the Republic of China was forced to leave the ranks of this most important international organization. However, the Republic of China did not come to terms with the forced withdrawal from the ranks of the UN members and with the situation when 23 million inhabitants of the island were deprived of the right to participate in their work and their representation in the UN and other related organizations. Since 1993, the Republic of China has been conducting annual campaigns and promotions (usually in September) for returning to the UN.

These campaigns, appeals and actions often appeal to the "principle of universality", on which UN membership is based. These annual campaigns include large-scale advertising in the international media, appeals to the international community, voiced by the diplomatic allies of Taipei at UN General Assembly sessions. The organizers of these appeals and appeals demand recognition of the right of 23 million people in the Republic of China to be represented in the United Nations. They also call for the inclusion of an item on the recognition of the Republic of China in the agenda of the annual sessions of the UN General Assembly. Such annual attempts to join the ranks of UN members have not yet yielded tangible results, but every year more and more countries support the inclusion of the issue of membership of the Republic of China on the UNGA agenda. For example, in 2002, representatives of 22 countries, mostly the diplomatic allies of Taipei , supported the Republic of China.

Although most of the countries initiating appeals and appeals to the UN and the international community maintain diplomatic relations with the Republic of China, there has recently been a trend of growing support for the island’s entry into the UN by large countries that have only informal (albeit close) ties to the island. For example, the United States and a number of other countries have recently become more positive about the issue of membership of the Republic of China in international organizations.

Due to the fact that the Republic of China is not a member of the United Nations, in many areas, 23 million people in the Republic of China still do not have representation in international decision-making processes. In certain cases, they are excluded even from participating in international humanitarian action and non-governmental activities as private individuals.

Along with the annual campaigns for the Republic of China to join the UN, in 2005 Taipei’s diplomatic allies put forward a proposal to the UN General Assembly, "The United Nations Active Role in Peacekeeping in the Taiwan Strait ." This proposal was put forward in accordance with one of the main goals of the UN - peacekeeping efforts.

Due to objections from the People's Republic of China , this proposal, as well as the next application for joining the UN, was not included in the agenda of the session of the UN General Assembly. However, both issues were preliminarily discussed, and many debate participants reacted positively to these proposals.

However, the Republic of China is constantly confronted by the objections of the PRC and a number of other UN members. It is the influence of the PRC and its firm position on this issue that are considered to be one of the main reasons that Taipei’s annual attempts to join the UN are unsuccessful. This year, once again, Taipei failed to achieve a positive consideration of the issue of China’s membership in the UN and to include this issue on the agenda of the UN General Assembly. The Office of Legal Affairs on July 23 this year rejected a request from Taipei to join an organization sent by the government of the Republic of China on July 19. The official reason for this step of the Office was the policy of "united China", according to which the UN recognizes the people of the PRC and the Republic of China as representatives of one state.

Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China stated that they were saddened by the refusal of the UN and believe that the 1971 resolution on the expulsion of the Republic of China from the UN should be revised, as it infringes on the rights of the people of the Republic of China, who should be able to participate in the organization. The resolution (on which refusals are usually based on considering the issue of China’s membership in the UN) emphasizes that China’s representatives are the only legal representatives of China to the UN. In the Republic of China, this resolution is considered obsolete and unfair, as it deprives 23 million people of the country of the right to be represented in this largest international organization.

Despite the fact that the efforts of the Republic of China to join the UN have not yet yielded concrete results, nevertheless, these issues, as well as the appeals and appeals of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies, have been hotly discussed and many participants in the discussion are somewhat sympathetic to the proposals of Taipei. The participation of the Republic of China in the United Nations also finds support at some meetings of other UN-related organizations. Thus, the desire of the Republic of China to participate in the work of the United Nations, other international organizations associated with the UN, and its commitment to peace in the Taiwan Strait have found expression and have been appreciated by the international community. On August 11, 2004, the Republic of China applied for membership for the twelfth time in the United Nations - according to the authorities of the Republic of China, this will help resolve its conflict with the People’s Republic of China . The Republic of China has been trying to join the UN since 1993 , but has been refused each time, primarily because of the opposition of the People’s Republic of China , which considers the territories controlled by the Republic of China as part of the territory of the People’s Republic of China and opposes the entry of the Republic of China into the UN, believing that membership in this international organization will actually be tantamount to recognizing the Republic of China as an independent state. The situation escalated again after March 14, 2005, the National Assembly of the PRC adopted a law to preserve the territorial integrity of China.

In 2005, the leaders of the two main opposition parties of the Republic of China (including the Kuomintang leader Lian Zhan ) paid a visit to the PRC , where they met with President of the People's Republic of China Hu Jintao . Official Beijing regards this fact as a great success and progress in resolving the issue of the Republic of China.

In 2007, the Republic of China applied for membership in the United Nations under the name "Taiwan", and not the "Republic of Taiwan" as before.

In early 2010, in connection with the planned delivery of another batch of weapons to Taiwan, US Deputy Secretary of Defense Wallace Gregson said that Washington would not refuse a deal with Taipei despite Beijing’s objections: “The US is obligated to provide Taiwan with self-defense capabilities, and we will fulfill all our obligations and in future". Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou welcomed the determination of the United States: “The more confidence we have and the safer we feel, the more we can interact with mainland China. The new weapons will help us develop ties on both sides of the strait, ”he said. It is noted that senior US defense officials have made it clear more than once that Washington will continue to strengthen the island’s defense in accordance with the 1979 Relations with Taiwan Act ^[2] .

Great attention is paid in the Republic of China to cooperation with the World Trade Organization . The Republic of China is not only a full member of this most important international trade organization, but also actively participates in its activities, and in some matters influences the adoption of important WTO decisions. Such an active position and such a prominent participation of the Republic of China in the work of the WTO are not accidental. The Republic of China (according to 2005 data ) is the 19th economy in the world in terms of GNP and the 16th trading power in the world in terms of exports and imports . The role of the Republic of China in the global economy and trade is steadily growing. The international influence of the Republic of China and the volume of economic assistance to developing countries are also growing . As a result of this, Taiwan’s active cooperation with the WTO seems logical and natural. The Republic of China joined the World Trade Organization on January 1, 2002, becoming its 144th member.

Since the entry of Taipei into the WTO, the Republic of China has constantly striven to play a constructive role in the ongoing round of negotiations under the so-called Development Program, adopted at the talks in Doha, Qatar. This contributed to the expansion of Taiwan's ability to participate in international economic activity. Taiwan fully supports the development of the least developed countries of the world, encouraged by the international trading system, in accordance with the Doha mandate. Taiwan, in particular, provided duty-free access to its markets to 141 items of goods produced in underdeveloped countries of the world, and allocated $ 188 thousand in 2005 for financial support of the Global Development Fund as part of the Doha negotiations. Taipei also sent a representative delegation of 46 representatives from various government agencies and organizations to the sixth ministerial conference, held in Hong Kong on December 13-18, 2005 . Similar conferences are held twice a year. At the initiative of Taiwan, bilateral negotiations were also held with 13 different countries. Taipei also took part in a number of multilateral meetings with representatives of countries with which there is a common interest, primarily members of the so-called Group of Ten Leading Importers of Food, including Japan, South Korea and Switzerland.

The Republic of China has also expressed interest in developing relations with the United States and the European Union on access to markets not only in agriculture, but also in other areas. Taiwan, as a full, active member of the WTO, continues to strengthen its trade and economic positions and expand its active activities within the framework of this international organization.

For many years, the Republic of China has worked hard to join the World Health Organization . The country's leadership has repeatedly called on the international community to accept the Republic of China into the ranks of WHO, made many statements, proposals, and convinced the importance of WHO for the protection of the health of 23 million people in the country. Many times, delegations from Taipei tried to participate in international conferences on medicine and healthcare, including in forums organized by WHO itself; WHO representatives held lengthy negotiations on the forms of Taiwan's participation in this organization.

Taiwan launched a campaign to join WHO as an observer in 1997. But the need for the Republic of China to join WHO in 2003 became especially apparent. Then, after the severe crisis caused by the Asian epidemic of SARS in 2003, when the Republic of China was among the countries most affected by this disease, world sympathies were increasingly leaning towards the Republic of China, and the international community, like WHO itself, was ready to provide Taipei with membership in this organization. But neither the spread of SARS nor the subsequent American support for the Republic of China's membership in WHO led to the desired result. The Republic of China still remains outside this influential international healthcare organization.

However, the chances of the Republic of China joining the ranks of WHO are still somewhat increasing. And this is connected not only with the growing sympathies in the world with respect to the Republic of China and its 23 million inhabitants. Outbreaks of SARS , recent outbreaks of avian influenza that have swept across countries and continents confirm the importance of combating international infections together and once again remind us of the long overdue need for Taiwan to become a WHO member. It is WHO that is the main international coordinating body, membership in which would make it possible to resolve, in collaboration with other countries, the urgent health problems that any state faces.

All this once again confirms the long overdue need for the Republic of China for full membership in the World Health Organization. That is why for several years now, the Republic of China has been persistently trying to join the ranks of WHO, with the support of its diplomatic allies and, in the past two years, the support of the United States.

A major event, closely monitored on the island, is the regular annual WHO session every year. It is on the eve of this session that Taiwan has increased hopes to return to this organization, from which the country was expelled in 1972. Preparing reports, statements, official inquiries. Representatives of the Republic of China make attempts to participate in the session (which is not always possible due to the strongest political pressure from the PRC), to remind forum participants about 23 million inhabitants of the island deprived of WHO support, the right of the Republic of China and its citizens to be represented in this international body . Representatives of the diplomatic allies of the Republic of China also express their support for Taipei's accession to WHO and recall the country's right to such accession. But once again, all these efforts are in vain (as was, for example, at the last session of the organization), and in Taipei they begin to prepare for a new WHO session.

The resolution of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress on supporting the participation of the Republic of China in the activities of WHO, adopted several years ago, did not add much optimism. Despite a certain sense of euphoria then, Taiwan has not made much progress towards joining this organization since then. The main obstacle to Taipei’s access to the World Health Organization is, of course, the long-standing objections of the People’s Republic of China.

But the events of recent years, especially the epidemic of SARS and bird flu, have shown the international community the urgent need to radically revise their attitude to the membership of the Republic of China in WHO. The admission of the Republic of China to the World Health Organization would be beneficial both to the international community and to WHO itself, it would be of great benefit in the fight against global infections. The Republic of China has world-renowned academia, a powerful pharmaceutical industry and a strong global health system. In addition, the Republic of China spends many millions of dollars to help protect health in Africa, the Pacific, and even Afghanistan.

After long and vigorous efforts, the Republic of China in May this ^{[ what? ] of the} year joined the World Health Assembly. This was a great success for the government in its policy of joining major international organizations and coordinating health programs with WHO and other international medical structures.

Minister of Health of the Republic of China Yeh Ching-Chuan announced on April 29 that he would be granted observer status in the World Health Assembly, the governing body of the World Health Organization (WHO). At a press conference in Taipei, E stated that WHO Director-General Margaret Chan formally invited the Republic of China to attend the 62nd World Health Assembly as an observer under the name " Chinese Taipei ." Mr E welcomed the invitation voiced by the Director-General of WHO and stated that he was going to lead a 15-member delegation to the World Health Assembly in Geneva on 18–27 May.

As Minister E said, “Based on the principles of respect and autonomy, this is the first time that Taiwan has been able to take part in official meetings and events under the auspices of the United Nations since our country left the United Nations and related organizations in 1971.”

Since 1997, the Republic of China has tried unsuccessfully to return to the ranks of WHO under various names, such as “Republic of China”. RK (Taiwan), or like Taiwan.

“In matters of ensuring the public health rights of the Republic of China, observer status at the World Health Assembly is a much more effective way of coordinating with WHO and providing other measures to combat dangerous diseases,” said E. According to the Minister of Health of the Republic of China, “We we will actively participate in any international, international research conducted by WHO and share with other countries our successful experience in public health and disease prevention. ”

For many years, Beijing has blocked any island attempts to become a member of international organizations operating under the auspices of the UN.

Taipei first applied for WHO membership in 1997 due to concerns about the health status of its citizens and a desire to contribute to international medical research. The Government of the Republic of China raised the issue of its independent membership in WHO, explaining this by the need for international assistance to combat the spread of dangerous infections, such as SARS and bird flu. Despite the support of many countries, such as the United States, Japan, and European Union countries, these attempts were immediately blocked by the PRC leadership.

In 2003, the Chinese Foreign Ministry sharply criticized the draft resolution adopted by the US Congress on supporting the accession of the Republic of China to WHO. Considering the island of Taiwan to be part of Chinese territory, Beijing argued that only sovereign states should join the World Health Organization, and the Republic of China by status cannot participate in any capacity in WHO.

Over the past decades, Taipei has made significant strides in the medical field by completely eliminating malaria and polio on its territory. Taiwanese medical missions and rescue teams assisted in the devastating tsunami zone in South and Southeast Asia, earthquakes in the Middle East, bird flu in Burkina Faso, and malaria in Sao Tome and Principe. A special Taiwanese mobile medical unit (Taiwan IHA) was created, the members of which are in constant readiness and are ready to order to go to a particular country in the world to provide assistance.

At a press conference in Geneva, Taiwan’s Minister of Health Ye Ching-Chuan Yeh was pleased to talk about an event of historic importance for Taiwan - the participation of 3 Taiwan experts in the work of the World Health Assembly. Although the Taiwan delegation enjoys observer status and is officially registered under the name "Chinese Taipei", its head, Dr. Chen Jianren (陳建仁, Chien-Jen Chen), believes that this is an absolutely acceptable solution.

“Now the 23 million people in our country will have access to international resources and information on ensuring health safety,” he said. “We have highly productive technologies for pharmaceutical products, we have a well-developed healthcare system, and Taiwan’s participation in WHO’s work will allow make his important contribution to the development of international health. ”

After the first announcements of the upcoming membership of the Republic of China in the World Health Assembly, a number of important statements were made by the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and prominent government and political figures. Endru Xia, the deputy foreign minister, said in particular that the invitation made by WHO was welcomed by various sections of Taiwanese society and reflected the efforts of President Ma Ying-jeou to strengthen ties between the two banks of the Taiwan Strait. As he said, “the long-standing support of our diplomatic allies with regard to obtaining status at the World Health Assembly was equally useful.”

All these successes in achieving an important goal - the accession of the Republic of China to the World Health Assembly - are largely connected with the new, more flexible policy of the current President of Taiwan, Ma Ying-jeou, who has set the main goal to improve economic and political relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, to increase ties between Taipei and Beijing to a new, higher level. According to many observers and analysts, it was the improvement in bilateral relations and the softer position of the PRC that contributed to the successful participation of the Republic of China in the World Health Assembly.

The head of the Republic of China, shortly after joining Taipei to this important international medical organization, said that Taiwan’s success as an observer at the World Health Assembly was the result of a practical and flexible diplomatic policy by his administration.

According to him, “this achievement shows that the people of the Republic of China are united in their desire to play a more compelling role in international organizations.” “Participation in the work of WHO is not just a political issue, it is more related to human rights, 23 million rights person for full medical care, healthcare. ”

The participation of the Republic of China in the World Health Assembly was the result of “flexible diplomacy” by President Ma Ying-jeou and enhances mutual understanding between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.

The Republic of China also takes an active part in the work of one of the most important international organizations of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Organization . Taipei has been a member of this organization for many years and is actively participating in its work as a full member. But even before joining APEC, since 1989, when this influential international regional organization was formed on the initiative of Australia and New Zealand, Taipei tirelessly sought to expand its cooperation with this organization and to participate in it. The main goals of the organization are to ensure a free open trade regime and strengthen regional cooperation. And Taiwan’s position in this area, the contribution of the island economy to the development of regional cooperation fully meet the tasks set for this organization.

The countries and territories that are members of APEC account for over 60% of world GDP and 47% of world trade. And the role of Taiwan, which is the 16th largest trading power in the world and the 19th largest GNP economy, is steadily growing in this organization.

The Republic of China fully shares the goals, objectives and priorities of APEC. So, in 1994, as a strategic goal, work was announced to create a free and open trade system and a liberal investment regime in the Asia-Pacific region. Taipei fully supports these goals and makes a significant contribution to efforts to create such a system. At the same time, Taiwan is providing powerful economic assistance to underdeveloped countries, trying to mitigate some of the negative consequences of globalization and economic liberalization for developing countries. Since joining APEC in 1991, the Republic of China has played an active role in its activities and has led several working groups in recent years. The Republic of China also takes an active part in APEC annual summits.

However, due to political reasons, the President of the Republic of China does not have the opportunity to personally participate in APEC summits, and sends his representative. So, in 2008, the representative delegation of the Republic of China at the summit in Sydney was headed by the famous businessman, political and public figure Stan Shi. Mr. Shi is one of the founders of the thriving electronics industry in the Republic of China and honorary chairman of the Acer group of companies. The representative of the Republic of China at the 2005 Busan Summit was Senior Advisor to President Lin Xinyi. The then signed Busan Declaration set the goal of developing free trade in the region and ensuring overall progress in the APEC countries. At the last summit in Sydney , as well as at the previous summits in Hanoi (2006) and Busan (2005), the “unofficial representatives” of the “Taiwanese economy,” according to APEC terminology, that is, the Taiwanese delegations, carried out active work to expand cooperation and many important negotiations with leaders of other APEC member countries.

The leadership of the Republic of China, and personally the president of the Republic of China, have repeatedly expressed their disagreement with the practice of isolating the Republic of China at the international level - in APEC and other international organizations. Thus, the President of the Republic of China repeatedly addressed the organizers of the APEC summits (in particular, on the eve of the Busan Summit), with a request to give permission for the direct participation of the President in the summit. But each time, such statements and requests from the Taiwanese president and the Foreign Ministry were refused. Thus, in 2005, the Korean authorities officially refused the request for the arrival of the president shortly before the Busan summit. The leadership of the Republic of China considers such a practice to be unfair.

As part of the APEC, the Republic of China provides economic assistance to many countries in the region, in particular, Thailand. The Republic of China intends to continue to actively participate in the work of this representative regional organization, expanding cooperation with other APEC member countries and using its growing economic influence for the common goal - stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.

The economic development of the Republic of China owes much to the international economic assistance that the country received in the early stages of its development. It was this help that had a great influence on the initial economic growth of the Republic of China and contributed to the creation of the “Taiwan economic miracle”. In addition, political democratization in the Republic of China has also been strengthened and expanded in many respects thanks to international support. That is why in Taiwan they feel responsibility towards those who at one time provided such significant economic and general support. And that is precisely why the Republic of China feels obligated to thank the international community for this generosity in the form of economic assistance to other countries that need this assistance. The Republic of China is committed to increasing its assistance to the international community. Through its international cooperation programs, the Republic of China is actively sharing, especially with friendly countries and diplomatic allies, its successful experience in economic development.

In 1996, the International Fund for Cooperation and Development was established in the Republic of China. Фонд был создан с целью консолидировать планирование и реализацию существующих программ международной помощи. Программы Фонда включают инвестиции и кредиты, техническую кооперацию, развитие людских ресурсов и гуманитарную помощь. Эти программы нацелены на борьбу с нищетой, снижение уровня бедности путём поощрения экономической активности, особенно в частном секторе. Также с помощью этого Фонда были основаны долгосрочные технические миссии в других странах, в первую очередь, в странах — дипломатических союзниках Тайваня.

В соответствии с новым направлением деятельности «народной дипломатии» в области экономической помощи международному сообществу возросла роль добровольцев в программах Фонда. Также Китайская Республика учредила образовательные программы для подготовки специалистов по сельскому хозяйству из различных стран и программы в университетах для их обучения.

• Международно-правовое признание

• Тайбэйско — Московская Комиссия по экономическому и культурному сотрудничеству (недоступная ссылка)