The foreign ministry has held a press conference in which it outlined its case for participation in the United Nations. The press conference took place Friday morning, just a few weeks before the UN General Assembly’s annual debates are set to begin.
Foreign Ministry Secretary-General Lily Hsu says that each year, Taiwan evaluates global affairs before making its appeal for inclusion in the UN. She says that this year, Taiwan will make the case that it is willing and able to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
The foreign ministry says that it has made three major requests to the UN this year. First, it has asked the UN not to neglect Taiwan’s 23.5 million people. Secondly, it has asked the UN to lift an embargo that forbids Taiwanese media from covering the General Assembly debates. Finally, the ministry has told the UN that Taiwan should be included in meetings that discuss the body's sustainable development goals.
In addition to direct appeals for inclusion from Taiwan itself, UN Secretary-General António Guterres is expected to receive letters from Taiwan’s diplomatic allies backing Taiwan’s UN participation.