Senate passes Taiwan-into-the-UN Resolution

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Other major events and issues: *March 2000 Presidential Elections* *Security in the Taiwan Strait* *Chinese stealing nuclear secrets* *20 years Taiwan Relations Act* *Visit of Chinese premier Zhu Rongji* *Return to: Taiwan, Ilha Formosa home page*
Washington
Senate passes Taiwan-into-the-UN Resolution Washington, 20 October 2000 The Senate, following in the steps of the House of Representatives, on 19 October 2000 passed by unanimous consent a resolution calling for meaningful representation for Taiwan in the United Nations and other international organizations. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) introduced the resolution (H.Con.Res. 390) into the Senate. "This is a victory for the people of Taiwan," said Rep. Bob Schaffer (R-Colo.), original sponsor of the resolution, upon learning of the Senate vote. He added that passing the widely supported resolution "once again restates our support and our commitment to the progress of Taiwan's democracy." Schaffer, who along with 40 of his colleagues introduced the Resolution 390 on July 27, wrote a letter to Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) Wednesday, requesting the resolution be placed on the Senate calendar to ensure its timely passage. On Oct. 3, the House passed the resolution by an overwhelming vote. "Congressional support for Taiwan is solid. Taiwan has made enormous strides toward becoming a full democracy and it is unreasonable for the people of Taiwan to be excluded from full participation in international institutions due to threats from mainland China," said Schaffer. The previous week, Schaffer and 10 other members of the House of Representatives also sent joint letters to Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Sen. Craig Thomas (R-Wyo.), chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs, urging the Senate to support Taiwan's participation in the United Nations and other international bodies such as the World Health Organization. Formosan Association for Public Affairs President Chen Wen-yen stated "it is a major step in the quest of the 23 million people of Taiwan for full membership in international organizations, such as the United Nations and the World Health Organization. " He added: "The world should not forget that UN membership for Taiwan is not some lofty dream, but it is imperative to Taiwan's national survival. Taiwan’s access to the UN Security Council, when China again starts to rattle its sabers, is not a luxury; it is a universal right! The rest of the world has that right, therefore Taiwan should have that right too." *Read:* The full text of the resolution An October 20th statement by FAPA, the Formosan Association for Public Affairs in Washington DC, which was instrumental in getting the Resolution passed.

News and Current Events

Other major events and issues:

March 2000 Presidential Elections

Security in the Taiwan Strait

Chinese stealing nuclear secrets

20 years Taiwan Relations Act

Visit of Chinese premier Zhu Rongji

Return to: Taiwan, Ilha Formosa home page

Washington

Senate passes Taiwan-into-the-UN Resolution

Washington, 20 October 2000

The Senate, following in the steps of the House of Representatives, on 19 October 2000 passed by unanimous consent a resolution calling for meaningful representation for Taiwan in the United Nations and other international organizations. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) introduced the resolution (H.Con.Res. 390) into the Senate.

"This is a victory for the people of Taiwan," said Rep. Bob Schaffer (R-Colo.), original sponsor of the resolution, upon learning of the Senate vote. He added that passing the widely supported resolution "once again restates our support and our commitment to the progress of Taiwan's democracy."

Schaffer, who along with 40 of his colleagues introduced the Resolution 390 on July 27, wrote a letter to Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) Wednesday, requesting the resolution be placed on the Senate calendar to ensure its timely passage.

On Oct. 3, the House passed the resolution by an overwhelming vote. "Congressional support for Taiwan is solid. Taiwan has made enormous strides toward becoming a full democracy and it is unreasonable for the people of Taiwan to be excluded from full participation in international institutions due to threats from mainland China," said Schaffer.

The previous week, Schaffer and 10 other members of the House of Representatives also sent joint letters to Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Sen. Craig Thomas (R-Wyo.), chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs, urging the Senate to support Taiwan's participation in the United Nations and other international bodies such as the World Health Organization.

Formosan Association for Public Affairs President Chen Wen-yen stated "it is a major step in the quest of the 23 million people of Taiwan for full membership in international organizations, such as the United Nations and the World Health Organization. "

He added: "The world should not forget that UN membership for Taiwan is not some lofty dream, but it is imperative to Taiwan's national survival. Taiwan’s access to the UN Security Council, when China again starts to rattle its sabers, is not a luxury; it is a universal right! The rest of the world has that right, therefore Taiwan should have that right too."

Read:

The full text of the resolution

An October 20th statement by FAPA, the Formosan Association for Public Affairs in Washington DC, which was instrumental in getting the Resolution passed.