H.E. Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General
United Nations
New York, NY
USA
Your Excellency,
In accordance with Article 4 of the Charter of the United Nations, and in compliance with rule 58 of the provisional rules of procedure of the Security Council and rule 134 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, I have the honor, on behalf of Taiwan's 23 million people and in my capacity as President, to request the admission of Taiwan as a member of the United Nations.
The international community of today chooses to disregard the efforts of Taiwan's 23 million people in their pursuit of dignity and peace. It would rather ask a country that advocates the universal values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and peace to submissively remain silent when its identity is denied and security threatened. Whereas globalization draws nations and peoples around the world closer under shared interests and concerns, the United Nations has long excluded Taiwan from participation, erecting a wall against it and placing it in political apartheid. Such unfair treatment towards Taiwan is incomprehensible and unbearable.
The people living on the beautiful land of Taiwan desire their nation to become a member of the international community and make greater contributions to world peace and prosperity. I, as President, have been given a mandate by the people of Taiwan, and therefore have the responsibility to see realized their aspirations. Participation in the United Nations is a fundamental right of the people of Taiwan. The absence of Taiwan in the United Nations creates a gap in the global network for cooperation, goes against the ideals and notion of justice upheld by the United Nations, and moreover is ironic in light of the UN's principle of universality.
As the popularly elected President of Taiwan, it is my duty to express to the world the earnest will of the 23 million people of Taiwan to join the United Nations. I hereby formally submit Taiwan's application for membership and request that it be placed before the Security Council and the General Assembly for consideration.
For this purpose, the following declaration is made in accordance with rule 58 of the provisional rules of procedure of the Security Council and rule 134 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly:
Declaration
In connection with the application of Taiwan for membership in the United Nations, I have the honor, on behalf of Taiwan's 23 million people, to declare that Taiwan accepts the obligations contained in the Charter of the United Nations and solemnly undertakes to fulfill them.
Sincerely yours,
Chen Shui-bian
President
Taiwan