Blocked by China, Taiwan Presses to Join U.N. Agency’s Meeting

The Communist Party leadership in Beijing would likely respond immediately--and quite forcefully--to any attempt by political leaders in Taiwan to amend the constitution used by the island's government in a way that removed the reference to "one China".

In other words, the UN must comply because of rules that the Communist Party of China itself wants in place in order to reinforce its claim of sovereignty over a place where it has never exercised control--not during the entire existence of the People's Republic of China.

What is at issue here is an unresolved civil war that the CPC is forcing everyone to see as having been resolved--in its favour.

To keep such a consequential part of the world on the outs is, to say the least, a deeply unethical way to behave.

Yes, the Chinese Civil War has not resolved. Therefore, the fact that Taiwan is Chinese territory has not changed. Both sides fought to represent "China", which at the time of the start of civil war include both Mainland China and Taiwan. The unresolved status of Chinese Civil War does not change territory of "China", therefore PRC claim to sovereignty over Taiwan or ROC's continued claim to sovereignty over mainland China (at least officially) are valid. If ROC government want to become "independent", breaking off from China permanently, a formal treaty between PRC and ROC is the only way to do it. As independence for Taiwan would officially changed what constitute "China", shouldn't all Chinese people, including those on Mainland, have a say? If self-determination only requires people in a region to vote and not the whole country, why did North fought to keep South from succeeding in American Civil War? or Why British parliament had to approve before there was a referendum on Scottish independence?

You opinion of fairness carries little weight with Chinese or American policy makers. America signed onto the One China policy for many reasons at the time no doubt, but today there was relief around the world that Pres. Trump backed down from his questioning early on. For the PRC this is a non-negotiable position of utmost intensity, any attempt to bridge it will lead to war.
There may well be some time in the future where the two parties come to a different agreement, but that is their matter, not America’s unless the desire is war. Not a good idea.

No, it does not. Chinese mainland has not used brute military force to bring Taiwan under its control yet.

President Trump did order a cruise missile strike against Syria, a sovereign nation. We are not letting them self-determine, are we? Why do you think you have more say about those Chinese affair than Chinese themselves?

Time to get off your high horse and stop contradicting yourself.

What does our President have to do with the fact that the citizens of Taiwan have chosen not to come under the dominion of the PRC ? Just who is " meddling " with whom ? The citizens of the ROC do not want to be governed by the PRC - - -not now , not ever . No one who has chosen their leaders through free , public elections will ever submit to a non- elected central authority . Cannot you accept this FACT and allow them to determine their own destiny ?

You must be a citizen of the PRC studying at UC Berkeley , so I understand that the notion of self - determination and self - governance is " not in your DNA " , as we say . Just try for an hour or so to think it through from the perspective of the average citizen born and raised in Taiwan . He / she does not want to be part of the PRC , and there is no way that your government can arm twist or sweet talk them into wanting to join you . Just accept it .

Why do not you think about it through the perspective of citizen born in China?

'I understand that the notion of self - determination and self - governance is " not in your DNA " , as we say' Thank you for injecting your racism into the conversation.

The Taiwan issue is more complicated than merely an issue of self determination. Every civil war is potentially a war for so called self determination. The Republic of China to this day claims a border far larger than the People's Republic of China does which includes all of Mongolia, parts of Russia, parts of India and Afghanistan. But because it can not possibly hope to assert sovereignty over this claim it presents itself as a victim of mainland aggression to the world. Were the Chinese Nationalists concerned about self determination of the native Taiwanese when they invaded Taiwan after losing a civil war?

The PRC’s response to ROC’s efforts to gain recognition in International Organizations is easy enough to understand. If enough participation is allowed the question of Sovereignty at some point must hang in the air. Taiwan should keep applying and China will keep resisting. No surprises; as Trump’s acceptance of Tsai’s call rose for a period.