King Mswati III reiterates his country’s support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the U.N. system at the General Assembly Sept. 26 in New York. (Courtesy of U.N. official website)

Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the U.N. system received staunch support from the nation’s diplomatic allies at the 73rd General Assembly running through Oct. 1 in New York.
 
During the General Debate, leaders and representatives of Belize, Kingdom of Eswatini, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Paraguay, Solomon Islands, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Tuvalu called for Taiwan’s engagement in U.N. specialized agencies.
 
Paraguay President Mario Abdo Benitez said that his country backs Taiwan’s legitimate request to be included in the U.N. system, adding that it can make a significant contribution to the global body.
 
According to President Hilda C. Heine of the Marshall Islands, the serious issue of the exclusion of Taiwan’s 23 million people must be resolved. Noting Taiwan’s implementation of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals and efforts to help the Marshall Islands tackle noncommunicable diseases, she said that blocking the nation’s participation does not benefit human welfare.
 
King Mswati III reiterated Eswatini’s unwavering stance that the people of Taiwan should be given the opportunity to partake in and contribute to the U.N. system. Taiwan’s experience in various fields vital to sustainable development would go a long way in advancing the work of the U.N., he said. 
 
St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Timothy Harris conveyed his country’s belief that Taiwan has an important and continuing role to play in the international arena as evidenced by its successes in such areas as agriculture, health, renewable energy and technology. He advocated for Taiwan to be given space to add to the dialogue, process and well-being of the global community.
 
Describing Taiwan as a vibrant democracy that has fully embraced international standards, Belize Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington called for a new approach on the participation of Taiwan in the U.N. system. Despite global recognition of Taiwan’s achievements and the readiness of member states to engage with its fast-growing economy, the U.N. has cut off the nation, he said, adding that this political and humanitarian embargo of Taiwan has no place in the multilateral body. (KWS-E)