Submitted by Roger C. S. Lin, Aug 15, 2007 02:19

In truth, Taiwan is not qualified to join the United Nations. The simplest reason is that "There is no country in the world today called Taiwan." The name of the governmental entity in Taiwan is "Republic of China."

Taiwan is a geographic term, it is not the name of a country. When people say that they are "Taiwanese," that is a geographical description, but technically not a political one.

The Republic of China on Taiwan is not qualified to join the United Nations either. In the peace treaties after WWII, there was no transfer of the territorial sovereignty of Taiwan to China. Without that territorial sovereignty, of course the ROC cannot be considered a sovereign nation. The Republic of China on Taiwan is (1) a subordinate occupying power, beginning Oct. 25, 1945, and (2) a government in exile, beginning mid-December 1949.

On Oct. 25, 2004, Sec. of State Powell said: "Taiwan is not independent. It does not enjoy sovereignty as a nation." His statement was 100% correct. Whether you consider the situation of the ROC on Taiwan, or use the term "Taiwan" to refer in some general way to the governmental entity on Taiwan, or whatever, there is nothing there worthy of being admitted to the United Nations.

See Roger2dc's posting of Aug. 14, 2007 at http://my.opera.com/lounge/forums/topic.dml?id=200230&t=1187070783&page=1#comment2197802 for more information, including a link to our selection of YouTube videos.

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