The Diplomat
The Republic of China (Taiwan) has again appealed to the international community “to support its participation in INTERPOL as an observer, and its equal access to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, bodies which hold their annual meetings this November and which exclude and limit Taiwan’s presence due to purely political reasons,” according to a press release issued by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Spain.
The note states that “despite the difficulties that such limitation entails, Taiwan’s contribution to the international community on the important issues addressed by these bodies – tackling transnational crime and climate change – continues to be more than essential and valuable”.
As for the Climate Summit – which holds its 28th conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12, 2023 – Taiwan’s participation to date is limited to “non-governmental organization observer” status, which does not allow the Taipei government to make the contributions that other participants can make as full members.
Even so, the statement says, “in recent years Taiwan has continued to work and has taken strong and effective measures to combat climate change” and gives as an example that “since last February Taiwan has become the 18th country in the world to codify the goal of zero net emissions by 2050 into law, the so-called Climate Change Response Act”.
Regarding INTERPOL – which holds its 91st General Assembly in Vienna, Austria, from November 28 to December 1, 2023 – the note highlights Taiwan’s “strategic location between Northeast and Southeast Asia” and therefore considers that “it cannot be ignored as an indispensable part of the global security system.” “The dangerous vacuum left by Taiwan’s exclusion,” he continues, “implies the existence of a gap in the international security network and a cause for concern for public order in countries around the world.”
“For all these reasons, and insisting that these are not political issues, but that climate change and global security concern us all,” the statement concludes, “the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) once again urges nations around the world to put aside political considerations and support Taiwan’s professional, pragmatic and constructive participation in these bodies of vital importance to the entire international community.”
