EU parliament urged to back Taiwan's role in international community

By Martin Banks - 14th September 2009

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Parliament is this week expected to demand that Taiwan be allowed to take part in the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).

Taiwan is currently struggling to deal with the aftermath of the devastating Typhoon Morakot last month.

The typhoon killed an estimated 670 people and led to the evacuation of almost 25,000 people when it slammed into Taiwan on 8 August, triggering flooding and mudslides in and around some 40 villages.

UK MEP Charles Tannock says that the island's involvement in the WMO, a specialised agency of the United Nations, would enable it to be "better prepared" to cope with such natural disasters in future.

Tannock, a member of the European Conservatives and Reformists group, tried to put forward a motion to this week's Strasbourg plenary calling for Taiwan to be allowed "meaningful participation" in all international organisations, including the WMO.

But this was rejected by parliament's conference of presidents, or political group leaders.

Instead, parliament will hold a debate on Thursday on Taiwan which will also include a commission statement.

The debate comes in the wake of a major cabinet reshuffle by the Taiwan government on 10 September.

Tannock will point out that the EU's position on Taiwan "significantly changed" recently when it dropped its long-standing opposition to Taiwan's meaningful participation in international institutions "that do not require statehood."

"This is a big change compared with its former policy and we need to hold the council to account on this," he says.

Tannock, president of parliament's all-party Taiwan friendship group, added, "I hope that in the wake of this awful disaster in Taiwan we will see a lot of support from MEPs this week for the country to be allowed access to the WMO and all its mechanisms.

"The WMO allows access to early warning weather systems and this is clearly absolutely crucial if Taiwan is, in future, to have the ability to deal with such disasters. At present, Taiwan is not allowed to be a member of the WMO and the effect of this typhoon shows that this really has to end."

"I realise that politically this is a sensitive issue because of Taiwan's current status and traditional opposition from China towards its membership of international organisations.

"But this is a humanitarian, not a political issue and I hope my fellow MEPs will acknowledge this fact."

Tannock will speak in the debate, probably on Thursday, and thank the EU for the support it gave to Taiwan after the typhoon, which includes large donations of aid.

His comments were echoed by leading ALDE MEP Graham Watson who said, "In light of recent events, Taiwan certainly has a good case for membership of the WMO."

The WMO is the UN system's authoritative voice on the state and behaviour of the earth's atmosphere.

It has a membership of 188 member states and originated from the International Meteorological Organization (IMO), which was founded in 1873.

Tannock says that as weather, climate and the water cycle know no national boundaries, international cooperation at a global scale is essential.

"The WMO provides the framework for such international cooperation," he says.

This week's parliamentary debate comes as the 2009 United Nations annual assembly opens in New York.

Taiwan's possible meaningful participation in international bodies is likely to be among the items on the agenda.

Taiwan's foreign affairs ministry says that its approach representation in the UN will set the tone for its future strategies to participate in international organisations.

Speaking last week, Paul Chang, director general of the MOFA's international organisations department, said, "With the postive development in cross-strait relations our 2009 bid till be a model for our approach to international particpation."

Taiwan has not been represented in the UN since 1971 when its seat was given to China.Its annual efforts to rejoin the body since 1993 have failed.

Meanwhile, the country's new premier, Wu Den-yih has set out the major administrative priorities of the new cabinet. These include national land conservation, managing the influenza A(H1N1) pandemic, revitalizing the economy, facilitating employment, and pragmatically promoting cross-strait ties and foreign relations. Premier Wu said Taiwan would continue to promote cross-strait relations and flexible diplomacy.

He also said that talks would proceed steadily regarding the cross-strait economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA), a major focus of public concern, and a memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding cross-strait cooperation in developing financial supervision mechanisms.

He stressed that any agreement to be signed by Taipei and Beijing must accord with the three principles of national need, popular support and legislative oversight.

President Ma also expressed the hope that negotiation of the ECFA and the MOU would get back on track and continue to proceed at the original pace.

The premier said that signing an ECFA with the Chinese mainland is necessary to resolve tariff barriers with the mainland and ASEAN partners and to boost the international competitiveness of Taiwan’s industries.

He added that, for any of Taiwan’s less competitive or sensitive industries that might be affected following the signing of an ECFA with the Chinese mainland, the government would adopt the requisite and necessary measures and give judicious guidance according to circumstances to help facilitate industrial upgrading.