By The Epoch Times | Created at 2026-09-22 18:27:10 | Updated at 2026-09-22 19:09:52
53 minutes ago
MILPITAS, Calif.—Representatives from 12 Taiwanese community organizations in Northern California held a joint press conference on Sept. 19, calling on the United Nations to admit Taiwan as a member state.
Participants condemned the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for its long-running efforts to suppress Taiwan’s international participation and accused Beijing of distorting the meaning of U.N. Resolution 2758 to block Taiwan from participating in the United Nations and other international organizations. In 1971, Resolution 2758 accepted the communist regime as the legitimate representative of China.
Event participants said peace across the Taiwan Strait affects not only the security of Taiwan’s more than 23 million people, but also security in the western Pacific, global high-tech supply chains, and world peace.
A Joint Statement
Eugene Yeh, former president of the Northern California chapter of the North America Taiwanese Professors’ Association, read a joint statement on behalf of the 12 organizations.
The statement said one major factor behind Taiwan’s continued exclusion from the United Nations is the CCP’s deliberate misinterpretation of Resolution 2758.
“The resolution does not mention Taiwan, nor does it authorize Beijing to represent Taiwan in the United Nations,” Yeh said while reading the statement.
The statement said Taiwan has a population, territory, government, and effective governance, yet it remains excluded from many U.N. mechanisms.
The statement also cited a European Parliament document supporting Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations and opposing unilateral changes to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait through force or coercion.
Yeh said the CCP has used military and gray-zone tactics in the Indo-Pacific in an attempt to unilaterally change the status quo.
Taiwan is “not only a bastion of freedom and democracy, but also an indispensable part of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific,” he said.
The statement also highlighted Taiwan’s role in advanced semiconductor manufacturing and global technology supply chains.
Excluding Taiwan represents “both a moral and substantive loss to the world,” Yeh said.
‘A Country That Safeguards Peace’
Tsai Chia-hua, deputy director of the Culture Center of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco, also spoke at the press conference. She outlined three objectives of Taiwan’s campaign for U.N. participation.
First, she said, Resolution 2758 should not prevent Taiwan’s meaningful participation. Second, Taiwan is firmly committed to maintaining the peaceful status quo in the Taiwan Strait. Third, Taiwan has pledged to the United Nations that it will resolve disputes peacefully and uphold the international legal order.
“We are not a country that undermines peace. We are a country that safeguards peace,” Tsai said.
Lee Han-wen, an Overseas Community Affairs Council adviser and the coordinator of the press conference, said Resolution 2758 addressed the issue of the People’s Republic of China being allowed to represent China at the United Nations but did not state that Taiwan belongs to the People’s Republic of China.
She accused Beijing of misrepresenting the resolution to claim Taiwan as part of the People’s Republic of China and restrict Taiwan’s international participation.
Lee urged Taiwanese people at home and abroad to put aside partisan differences.
“Regardless of our political affiliations, we must stand united when facing the outside world,” she said.
Community Leaders Call for Greater Participation
Representatives from other organizations also gave speeches at the conference.
Joe Chou, spokesman for the Northern California Taiwan Forum, said Taiwanese Americans should build deeper relationships with the U.S. Congress and mainstream American society amid pressure from Beijing.
Chih-yang Chang, a representative of the North America Taiwanese Engineers Association, said Taiwan should not be excluded from the United Nations anymore. When Taiwan is denied an opportunity to participate in the U.N. system, Chang said, “this is not only a loss for Taiwan, but also a loss for the world.”
Dr. Jiin-Tarng Lin, former president of the Northern California chapter of the North America Taiwanese Medical Association (NATMA), said Taiwan could benefit the world by sharing its public health experience through U.N. organizations such as the World Health Organization.
Tan Chih-jen, a representative of the Taiwanese Junior Chamber of Commerce San Francisco Bay Area, said it is important to educate younger Taiwanese Americans about Taiwan’s international situation.
“Our Taiwanese friends in the Junior Chamber all strongly support what our predecessors are doing here overseas—speaking up for the Taiwanese people,” he said.
Wendy Huang, who was a Republican candidate for the U.S. House in this year’s primary election, also expressed support for Taiwan’s admission to the United Nations.
“We don’t need to be afraid,” she said, encouraging Taiwan to continue moving forward despite the difficulties it faces.
Taiwan Strait Peace Tied to Global Security
Participants said military, diplomatic, and gray-zone pressure on Taiwan has implications beyond the island and that a Taiwan Strait conflict could affect the Western Pacific, global shipping, semiconductor production, and high-tech supply chains.
“Taiwan firmly defends the core values of democracy and freedom, maintains stability in the Taiwan Strait, and safeguards world peace,” the joint statement said.
The 12 organizations that signed the statement were the Northern California Taiwan Forum; the North America Taiwanese Professors’ Association, Northern California Chapter; the Northern California South Bay Taiwanese Association; the North America Taiwanese Engineers Association, HQ; the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce San Francisco Bay Area; the San Francisco Bay Area Friends of Taiwan Association; the Taiwanese Junior Chamber of Commerce San Francisco Bay Area; the Northern California Taiwanese Care Association; the San Jose Taiwanese Overseas Community Network; the Northern California Taiwanese Schools Association; the North America Taiwanese Medical Association, Northern California Branch; and the Taiwanese Cultural and Sports Association.
