Vol. 445 No. 9
40 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether Ireland will support the campaign of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to join the United Nations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [462/94]
50 Mr. Bradford asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland will support the UN efforts to set up a committee to examine Taiwan's request for membership of the United Nations in accordance with the established model of parallel representation for divided countries. [1385/94]
51 Mr. Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland will support the UN efforts to set up a committee to examine Taiwan's request for membership of the United Nations in accordance with the established model of parallel representation for divided countries. [1387/94]
66 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland is prepared to support the application by the Republic of China for membership of the United Nations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1244/94]
71 Mr. Hogan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland will support the UN efforts to set up a committee to examine Taiwan's request for membership of the United Nations in accordance with the established model of parallel representation for divided countries. [1386/94]
111 Mr. Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland proposes to support the application of the Republic of China to enter the United Nations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1737/94]
123 Mrs. Owen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland will support the UN efforts to set up a committee to examine Taiwan's request for membership of the United Nations in accordance with the established model of parallel representation for divided countries. [1478/94]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 40, 50, 51, 66, 71, 111 and 123 together.
China has been a member of the United Nations since the foundation of the organisation in 1945. Until 1971 it was represented by the Nationalist Government in Taipei. Since then, following the adoption of General Assembly Resolution 2758, the Government of the People's Republic of China has been the sole occupant of China's seat.
When Ireland established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China in 1979 it recognised the Government of the People's Republic as the sole legal government of China. I do not envisage that there will be any change in our position on this issue.
Does the Tánaiste accept it is ridiculous that the country which is the fourteenth largest trading nation in the world is excluded from the 180 members of the United Nations? Does he further accept that Taiwan has a per capita income of $10,000 and the second largest foreign exchange reserve in the world at over $80 billion, second only to Japan? Does he not accept it is ridiculous that Taiwan should be excluded from the United Nations? Like other Members of this House, I have been a guest of the Republic of China in Taiwan and have been impressed with the progress made there, particularly in the establishment of a multi-party democratic system.
It did not cost the taxpayer anything.
Unlike other expenditures.
I am grateful for the declaration of interest by the Deputy on this issue. Obviously he has no fears about the Taiwanese curse. I should explain to him that of 12 Members who previously went to Taiwan, six lost their seats in a subsequent general election. I trust that Cork South-West is more secure than in the old days.
I suppose the Tánaiste will tell us we will not have to fight a general election for three years.
Following the Deputy's recent election experience he probably would not want to fight a general election for three years. I am aware of the matters to which the Deputy refers in relation to the strength of Taiwan in the international trading community. We must make some distinctions. I do not think that either Taiwan or Beijing consider that they are two Chinas; the conflict between them is in relation to who represents China. The position in former East Germany or North Korea is different. Taiwan is not recognised internationally as a separate state. The admission of East Germany and North Korea to the UN took place with the agreement of the Federal Republic of Germany and South Korea. Similar conditions do not apply in the case of Taiwan. While Taiwan is not going to be a member of the United Nations — we do not support any application by it — that does not affect its status as a trading territory. The question of that country joining GATT is under consideration. Ireland recognises the importance of both China and Taiwan to international trade. We would hope they will have membership of GATT at an early date.
Will the Tánaiste accept that it is not necessary, under international law, to recognise officially a particular country to support its admission to the United Nations? The PLO was accepted at the UN long before the recent accords. Will the Tánaiste accept that the Republic of China in Taiwan could be accepted as a member, not only of GATT but of the United Nations, without in any way affecting our recognition of the People's Republic of China in Beijing?
While I agree with the Deputy in regard to his previous question, I disagree with him on this issue. I do not see a parallel between the PLO and Taiwan, they cannot be compared. We established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China and recognise its Government as the sole legitimate Government of China.
Including Taiwan?
China, in the view of Beijing and the Taipei authorities, includes the island of Taiwan. Obviously, a different position exists in respect of trading and that is the way it will remain. We do not recognise Taiwan as a separate State and, consequently, do not have diplomatic relations with it, but that does not prevent co-operation on an economic level between Irish enterprises and their Taiwanese counterparts.
That is horrifying.
A similar position prevailed when the Deputy was a member of Government.
At the risk of repetition, is it not a fact that Taiwan is a strong, autonomous and vibrant country with the largest foreign reserves of any nation, an excellent human rights record — unlike many other members of the UN — and a full and open democratic system of Government? Will the Minister agree that it meets all the criteria for membership of the UN? Also, will he agree that, apart from the reservation of Communist China, no strong reason has been advanced as to why it should not become a member of the UN? As the Minister's last three or four replies in regard to the crisis in Rwanda centred mainly on resources, will he agree that Taiwan, as a member of the United Nations, could be a valuable contributor in terms of financing the work of the UN?
There are two aspects regarding membership of the United Nations to which the Deputies do not give due regard. Obviously, there would have to be consensus on the admission of any country to the United Nations. The Deputies are also missing an historical point in relation to Taiwan and the People's Republic of China. The People's Republic of China took the Chinese seat at the UN when it entered in 1971, a seat which, until then, had been occupied by representatives of the Nationalist Government in Taiwan, which still claimed to be the legitimate Government of all China, including Taiwan. Many countries requested Taiwan's membership of the UN put on this year's agenda, but that did not happen. Similar requests were made last year but there was not consensus on the issue. The European Union did not adopt a position, but I believe all its members regard the People's Republic of China as the sole legitimate Government of China, including Taiwan. Both Deputies have been to Taiwan and are aware that we have excellent trading relations with that country, relations which I hope will grow in the future.
I thank the Minister for his reply. Will he explain why Ireland could not at least support the request to set up a sub-committee of the UN to consider Taiwan's application in accordance with the established model of parallel representation of divided countries? That is not asking the Minister to say whether he wants them to become members. As such a committee was set up by the Portuguese representatives to take issues relating to East Timor off the UN agenda, why could Ireland not agree to set up such a sub-committee in this case and support the 12 countries that submitted such a request to Boutros Boutros Ghali?
The answer to the Deputy's question is fairly straightforward. If Ireland gave formal recognition to Taiwan either as the legitimate Government of all of China — which it still nominally claimes to be — or as an independent State, the probable consequences would be the severance of diplomatic relations between Ireland and China. We are not ready to make that move.
Is the Minister not indicating that China, which happens to be a member of the Security Council, is holding a veto over Taiwan in regard to membership of the UN? It has the resources and the economic wealth to participate in many aspects of United Nations' work, particularly in the role of peacekeeping. Is the Minister not sustaining and supporting the view that a member of the Security Council can veto another country's application?
As I said in reply to Deputy Higgins — and the Deputy is well aware of the discussions within the United Nations — reform is on the basis of consensus and that will apply in regard to the Taiwanese application. If there is consensus, there will be no difficulty about the application, but that is not yet the case.
That is why requests were made for setting up a sub-committee.
Perhaps that matter can be considered.
Will the Minister not accept that the United States Senate passed a unanimous vote supporting the admission of the People's Republic of China and Taiwan to the United Nations? Will he agree that China was divided in 1949 and that the UN resolution in 1971 provided for the international representation of the Chinese people only on the mainland under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China and that since then the 21 million people on the island of Taiwan and the adjoining islands have not been represented? It is outrageous to accept that the Beijing Government represents those people, it has tried to smother and shell them over the years. Surely Taiwan should now be allowed to take its place as one of the premier nations of the world?
I repeat for the umpteenth time that, in terms of our relationship with Taiwan and acceptance of its status, Ireland's establishment of diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China involved recognition of the Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legitimate Government of China and, in the view of the Beijing and Taipei authorities, includes the island of Taiwan. Perhaps this matter should be on the agenda of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs. Strong arguments have been made against the basis of the application being along the lines suggested by Deputy Owen, namely, an established model of parallel representation of divided countries. China rejects such an approach and, as I said earlier, there was international agreement regarding the German and Korean applications. The two parts of both those countries were widely recognised by the international community, but that is not the case in respect of Taiwan.
I will certainly bring up the matter at the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs.
