The prime ministers of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and St. Kitts and Nevis are advocating for Taiwan’s inclusion in international discussions. During their remarks at the United Nations General Assembly on September 27, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves and Dr. Terrance Drew highlighted that Taiwan’s lack of representation contradicts the UN’s core principles.

Gonsalves emphasized the need for Taiwan to participate in various UN agencies, stating, “St. Vincent and the Grenadines urges that Taiwan be allowed to engage fully in specialized organizations, particularly those focused on health, transportation, climate change, disaster preparedness, and global policy.”

Drew echoed this sentiment, saying, “We must remember Taiwan. The people of Taiwan have consistently demonstrated their dedication to sustainable development. The Assembly’s theme, ‘leaving no one behind,’ urges us to include Taiwan in the UN’s work, especially within the World Health Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization.”

He added, “Taiwan’s innovation and technological leadership are essential for the global community to tackle future challenges. The UN must broaden its perspective to encompass Taiwan, as its exclusion undermines our shared values of peace, sustainable development, and human dignity.”

Both nations are among Taiwan’s few remaining allies, alongside Belize, Haiti, and St. Lucia. Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China, was a founding member of the UN but lost its status in 1971 when Resolution 2758 recognized the People’s Republic of China as “the only legitimate representative of China.”

In recent years, Taiwan has lost its observer status in various UN-affiliated organizations, including the World Health Assembly and the International Civil Aviation Organization, primarily due to Beijing’s efforts to assert its claim over Taiwan.

Despite these challenges, Taiwan continues to participate in the World Trade Organization as “Chinese Taipei.”

The Chinese Communist government has intensified pressure on Taiwan’s democratically elected leaders, raising concerns about potential military action to reclaim the island. Gonsalves stressed the importance of maintaining peace between Taipei and Beijing, stating, “The possibility of disrupting the fragile peace across the Taiwan Strait is concerning. The pursuit of dominance and the denial of a people’s right to self-determination is unjust, whether in the East or the West.”

He reaffirmed St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ commitment to supporting Taiwan’s right to self-determination. Taiwan expressed gratitude to Gonsalves, Drew, and other leaders for their support. The Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, “Our exclusion undermines peace, sustainable development, and human dignity!”