US and Taiwanese officials meet to discuss ‘meaningful’ UN role for island

The State Department says the meeting looked at ways to allow Taipei to take part in international talks on issues such as climate change and public health

Talks come days before Xi Jinping will address the UN to mark the 50th anniversary of Beijing taking its UN seat

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The US relationship with Taiwan has become closer in recent years. Photo: Reuters

Published: 7:33pm, 24 Oct 2021Updated: 11:26pm, 24 Oct 2021

US and Taiwanese officials discussed plans to allow the island to “participate meaningfully” at the United Nations on Friday in the latest move to upgrade Washington’s relationship with the island.

The US State Department said in a statement released on Sunday that “high-level representatives” of the US State Department and Taiwan’s foreign ministry had discussed “expanding Taiwan’s participation at the United Nations and in other international fora”.

“The discussion focused on supporting Taiwan’s ability to participate meaningfully at the UN and contribute its valuable expertise to address global challenges, including global public health, the environment and climate change, development assistance, technical standards, and economic cooperation,” the statement said.

“US participants reiterated the US commitment to Taiwan’s meaningful participation at the World Health Organization and UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and discussed ways to highlight Taiwan’s ability to contribute to efforts on a wide range of issues,” it continued.

China’s foreign ministry did not reply to requests for comment.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry expressed “gratitude for US firm support”.

Participants included acting principal deputy assistant secretary for international organisations Hugo Yon, deputy assistant secretary for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia Rick Waters and Taiwan’s de facto deputy ambassador in Washington Wang Liang-yu, the statement said.