Taiwan seeks to rally support for bid to take part in the United Nations

Taipei was ousted in favour of Beijing in 1971, but hopes it is gaining more international support for inclusion in the global body

The effort will provoke a strong reaction from mainland China, which is adamant that the island is part of its territory

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The UN annual general assembly meets later this month. Photo: Bloomberg

Lawrence Chung

Published: 8:30pm, 2 Sep 2021Updated: 3:09pm, 6 Sep 2021

Corrected [3:05pm, 6 Sep, 2021]

[3:05pm, 6 Sep, 2021]
An earlier version of this story reported that Taiwan was seeking to return to the United Nations. It is seeking to take part in the organisation.

Taiwan is stepping up its long campaign to take part in the United Nations amid hopes it is gaining more support despite intense hostility from mainland China.

The United Nations will convene its annual general assembly on September 14 and the topic is expected to be discussed during its debate session later in the month.

In promoting its annual drive to rejoin the global body – which ousted Taiwan in favour of Beijing 50 years ago – a senior official from the island’s foreign ministry said on Thursday that Taiwan’s contributions to the world, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, have increased its chances of inclusion.

“More and more members of the global society have recognised our need to be included in international organisations and have increased their support for our meaningful participation in those establishments,” Lily Hsu, secretary general of Taiwan’s foreign ministry, said in Taipei.

Taiwan has in the past two years won global recognition for its performance in containing the Covid-19 pandemic and its donation of face masks and other medical supplies to other parts of the world.

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