United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758

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UN General Assembly
Resolution 2758
United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758
Date25 October 1971
Meeting no.1,976
CodeA/RES/2758(XXVI) (Document)
SubjectRestoration of the lawful rights of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations
Voting summary
  • 76 voted for
  • 35 voted against
  • 17 abstained
ResultAdopted
United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758
Hanyu Pinyin
Liánhéguó Dàhuì 2758 hào juéyì
Wade–GilesLien2-ho2-kuo2 Ta4-hui4 2758 hao4 chueh2-yi4
Tongyong PinyinLianheguo Dahuei 2758 hao jyueyi
Yale RomanizationLyanhegwo Dahwei 2758 hau Jyweyi

The United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 (also known as the Resolution on Admitting Peking) was passed in response to the

relocated to Taiwan from the mainland) from the United Nations.[2]

Background

China was one of the original 51 member states of the

retreat to Taiwan, which Japan evacuated from in 1945 and renounced all right, title and claim to in the Treaty of San Francisco in 1951.[3] After January 1950, the PRC was in control of mainland China, but was unable to capture Taiwan, Penghu, Matsu and Kinmen, and thus these remained as ROC ruled lands
.

The PRC claimed to be the successor government of the ROC, while the Kuomintang in Taiwan championed the continued existence of the Republic of China. Both claimed to be the only legitimate Chinese government, and each refused to maintain diplomatic relations with countries that have recognized the other. The ROC continued to represent China in the UN until Resolution 2758 was passed.

UN Charter
provides:

The original Members of the United Nations shall be the states which, having participated in the United Nations Conference on International Organization at San Francisco, or having previously signed the Declaration by United Nations of 1 January 1942, sign the present Charter and ratify it in accordance with Article 110.

Additionally, the ROC had signed and ratified the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations on 18 April 1961 and 19 December 1969 respectively.

Proceedings at the United Nations

On 15 July 1971, 17 UN members: Albania, Algeria, the Congo, Cuba, Guinea, Iraq, Mali, Mauritania, North Yemen, Romania, Somalia, South Yemen, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Yugoslavia, and Zambia, requested that a question of the "Restoration of the lawful rights of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations" be placed on the provisional agenda of the twenty-sixth session of the United Nations General Assembly.[4] In an explanatory memorandum accompanying their request, the 17 UN members observed that for years they had protested against what they considered were hostile and discriminatory policy followed by several governments with regard to the communist government of mainland China, which they considered to be the genuine representative of the Chinese people.[4] The existence of the People's Republic of China, they declared, was a reality which could “not be changed to suit the myth of a so called Republic of China, fabricated out of a portion of Chinese territory”.[4] In the view of the 17 UN members, the ROC were unlawful authorities installed in the island of Taiwan which claimed to represent China, and they remained there only because of the permanent presence of United States Armed Forces.[4] No important international problems, they added, could be solved without the participation of the People's Republic of China. It was in the fundamental interests, they concluded, of the United Nations to "restore" promptly to the People's Republic of China its seat in the organization, thus putting an end to a "grave injustice" and "dangerous situation" which had been perpetuated in order to fulfill a policy that had been increasingly repudiated.[4] This meant the immediate expulsion of the representatives of the Chiang Kai-shek regime from the seat which it held in the United Nations.[4]

On 17 August 1971, the United States requested that a second item, "The representation of China in the United Nations" also be placed on the provisional agenda.

United Nations Charter.[4] Thus, the U.S. added, the People's Republic of China should be represented and at the same time provision should be made to ensure that the Republic of China was not deprived of its representation.[4]

On 22 September 1971, the United States proposed at the UN General Committee that the two items be combined into one item called "The Question of China".[4] The proposal was, however, rejected by 12 votes to 9 with 3 abstentions.[4]

On 25 September 1971, the first Albanian-backed draft resolution, A/L.630 and Add.1 and 2, was submitted by 23 states including 17 of the states which had joined in placing the question on the agenda, to: "...restore to the People's Republic of China all its rights and expel forthwith the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek."[5]

On 29 September 1971, a second draft resolution, A/L.632 and Add.1 and 2, sponsored by 22 members including the U.S., was proposed declaring that any proposal to deprive the Republic of China of representation was an important question under Article 18 of the UN Charter, and thus would require a two-thirds supermajority for approval.[6]

On 29 September 1971, a third draft resolution, A/L.633, sponsored by 19 members including the U.S., was proposed by which the Assembly would affirm the right of representation of the People's Republic of China and recommend that it be seated as one of the five permanent members of the Security Council, while also affirming the continuing right of representation of the Republic of China.[7]

Adopted resolution 2758

On 15 October 1971 the representatives of 22 UN members requested the

status of Taiwan remains to be determined".[4] They declared they would have absolutely nothing to do with the UN in such scenarios.[4]

Discussion at the Assembly took place at 12

plenary meetings between 18 and 26 October 1971 with 73 member states taking part.[4] During the debates four more draft resolutions were submitted - three by Tunisia and one by Saudi Arabia. Broadly, each of these draft resolutions was a variation on the third draft resolution described above, backed by the U.S. Notably, the Saudi-proposed resolution would have held that the people of the island of Taiwan had a right to self-determination.[4] Similarly, the Tunisian resolution would have called for the Republic of China government to be represented in the United Nations under the name "Formosa".[4]

USSR, argued that requiring the matter to be subject to a supermajority vote was not appropriate because the adoption of the Albanian proposed resolution did not involve the admission or expulsion of a member. Rather it concerned only credentials and Taiwan had never been a member.[4] They argued there was only one Chinese state that was a member. Any other Chinese state would have to apply for membership in accordance with the Charter.[4]

On 25 October 1971, the voting took place. In the first vote held, the Assembly rejected the U.S. backed proposal that the matter would require a supermajority vote — the 'important question motion' [A/L.632 and Add.1 and 2].[8] The Assembly then voted on a separate U.S. proposal that the words "and to expel forthwith the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from the place which they unlawfully occupied at the United Nations and in all the organizations related to it" be removed from the draft resolution A/L.630 and Add.1 and 2. The U.S. representative suggested that this motion, if adopted, would "have the effect of welcoming the PRC to the General Assembly and the Security Council, while at the same time not affecting the representation of the ROC in this hall".[8] The motion was rejected by a vote of 61 to 51, with 16 abstentions.[8]

At this point the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the ROC, Chow Shu-Kai, stated "in view of the frenzied and irrational manners that have been exhibited in this hall, the delegation of the Republic of China has now decided not to take part in any further proceedings of this General Assembly."[8] He said the "ideals upon which the United Nations was founded and which the General Assembly has now been betrayed".[8]

The Assembly then adopted draft Albanian proposed resolution A/L.630 and Add.1 and 2, by a roll-call vote of 76 to 35, with 17 abstentions, as Resolution 2758.[2] The Beijing government began representing China at the UN from 15 November 1971 and its delegates were seated at the UN Security Council meeting held on 23 November 1971, the first such meeting where representatives of the Beijing government represented China.[4]

Votes

Vote Tally States Percent of members Percent of votes
In favour 76 Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Austria, Belgium, Bhutan, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burma, Burundi, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Cameroon, Canada, Ceylon, Chile, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Kuwait, Kingdom of Laos, Libyan Arab Republic, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, People's Republic of the Congo, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Sudan, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia 59.37% 68.46%
Against 35 Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo (Democratic Republic of), Costa Rica, Dahomey, Dominican Republic, EI Salvador, Gabon, Gambia, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Ivory Coast, Japan, Khmer Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Paraguay, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Swaziland, United States of America, Upper Volta, Uruguay, Venezuela 27.34% 31.53%
Abstain 17 Argentina, Bahrain, Barbados, Colombia, Cyprus, Fiji, Greece, Indonesia, Jamaica, Jordan, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Mauritius, Panama, Qatar, Spain, Thailand 13.28% X
Total 128 100% 100%
Source: Resolution 2758 voting record[9]

Later developments

On 21 September 2007, the UN General Assembly rejected Taiwan's membership bid to "join the UN under the name of Taiwan", citing Resolution 2758 as acknowledging that Taiwan is part of China.[10] The UN General Assembly and its General Committee's recommendations on the "Taiwan question" reflected long-standing UN policy and is mirrored in other documents promulgated by the United Nations. For example, the UN's "Final Clauses of Multilateral Treaties, Handbook" (2003) states:

...regarding the Taiwan Province of China, the Secretary-General follows the General Assembly’s guidance incorporated in resolution 2758 (XXVI) of the General Assembly of 25 October 1971 on the restoration of the lawful rights of the People’s Republic of China in the United Nations. The General Assembly decided to recognize the representatives of the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations. Hence, instruments received from the Taiwan Province of China will not be accepted by the Secretary-General in his capacity as depositary.[11]

Controversy

According to some American think tank analysts, Resolution 2758 solved the issue of "China's representation" in the United Nations—but it left the issue of Taiwan's representation unresolved in a practical sense.[12] The ROC government continues to hold de facto control over Taiwan and other islands. While the PRC claims sovereignty over all of "China" and claims that Taiwan is part of China, it does not exercise actual authority over Taiwan, though it continues to claim that it holds such sovereignty. Former Republic of China president Ma Ying-jeou said during his term, "The Republic of China is a sovereign country, and mainland China is part of our territory according to the Constitution. Therefore, our relations with the mainland are not international relations. It is a special relationship".[13]

On the other hand, although policy has changed, and the ROC Government now[

Taiwanese politics
.

The ROC framed the issue as one involving "the expulsion of a member". The

USSR took a different view, arguing that only one Chinese state was a member and so the question was merely one of which Chinese delegation's credentials to accept and that any other Chinese state would have to apply for membership in accordance with the Charter.[4]

Attempts were made to get a review of Resolution 2758 onto the agenda with a proposal in 1998 noting that "as to its return to the United Nations, the Government has made it clear that it no longer claims to represent all of China, but that it seeks representation only for its 21.8 million people".

referendums were held in Taiwan asking whether it should join the UN under "Taiwan" or "Republic of China"/any other suitable name. The motions failed because less than the required fraction of the electorate voted.[15] The ROC administration under Ma Ying-jeou dropped attempts to become a UN member state and sought meaningful participation in auxiliary agencies of the UN such as the World Health Organization.[16][17][18]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Charter of the United Nations: Chapter IV: The General Assembly". Archived from the original on 28 November 2010. Retrieved 23 December 2010.
  2. ^ a b UN General Assembly (1971). "Restoration of the lawful rights of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations". Resolutions adopted by the General Assembly during its 26th session, 21 September-22 December 1971: 2. Archived from the original on 27 December 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Treaty of Peace with Japan" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 September 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  4. ^ .
  5. ^ Albania; Algeria; Ceylon; Cuba; Guinea, Equatorial; Guinea; Iraq; Mali; Mauritania; Nepal; Pakistan; People's Democratic Republic of Yemen; People's Republic of the Congo; Romania; Somalia (25 September 1971). "Restoration of the lawful rights of People's Republic of China in the United Nations: draft resolution / Albania, Algeria, Ceylon, Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Iraq, Mali, Mauritania, Nepal, Pakistan, People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, People's Republic of the Congo, Romania, Somalia, Syrian Arab Republic, Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania, Yemen, Yugoslavia and Zambia". United Nations.
  6. ^ Australia; Colombia; Costa Rica; Dominican Republic; El Salvador; Fiji; Gambia; Guatemala; Haiti; Honduras; Japan; Lesotho; Liberia; New Zealand; Nicaragua; Philippines; Swaziland; Thailand; United States; Uruguay (29 September 1971). "Restoration of the lawful rights of People's Republic of China in the United Nations: draft resolution /: Australia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Fiji, Gambia, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Japan, Lesotho, Liberia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Philippines. Swaziland, Thailand, United States of America and Uruguay". United Nations.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Australia; Chad; Costa Rica; Dominican Republic; Fiji; Gambia; Haiti; Honduras; Japan; Lesotho; Liberia; New Zealand; Philippines; Swaziland; Thailand; United States; Uruguay (29 September 1971). "Restoration of the lawful rights of People's Republic of China in the United Nations: draft resolution /: Australia, Chad, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Gambia, Haiti, Honduras, Japan, Lesotho, Liberia, New Zealand, Philippines, Swaziland, Thailand, United States of America and Uruguay". United Nations.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ a b c d e United Nations (1974). General Assembly, 26th session: 1976th plenary meeting, Monday, 25 October 1971, New York. pp. 33–35, 40.
  9. ^ "General Assembly, 26th session : 1976th plenary meeting, Monday, 25 October 1971, New York (A/PV.1976)". United Nations Digital Library. 1974. p. 41. Archived from the original on 15 February 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  10. ^ "GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTS WORK PROGRAMME FOR SIXTY-SECOND SESSION, REJECTS BID TO INCLUDE AGENDA ITEM ON TAIWAN | UN Press". press.un.org. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  11. ^ ""Final Clauses of Multilateral Treaties, Handbook", United Nations, 2003" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  12. ^ "The Distortion of UN Resolution 2758 and Limits on Taiwan's Access to the United Nations". GMFUS. Archived from the original on 29 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  13. ^ "Ma accused of 'lying' about relations - Taipei Times". www.taipeitimes.com. 18 October 2013. Archived from the original on 8 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  14. ^ United Nations General Assembly Session 53 Document 145. Request for the inclusion of an item in the provisional agenda of the fifty-third session - Need to review General Assembly resolution 2758 (XXVI) of 25 October 1971 owing to the fundamental change in the international situation and to the coexistence of two Governments across the Taiwan Strait A/53/145 8 July 1998. Retrieved 7 October 2008.
  15. ^ Lam, Willy (28 March 2008). "Ma Ying-jeou and the Future of Cross-Strait Relations". China Brief. 8 (7). Archived from the original on 13 April 2008. Retrieved 4 April 2008.
  16. ^ "No bid for full UN membership". Taipei Times. 16 August 2008. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  17. ^ "Taiwan drops annual U.N. bid as China relations warm". Reuters. 4 September 2009. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  18. ^ Winkler, Sigrid (20 June 2012). "Taiwan's UN Dilemma: To Be or Not To Be". Brookings. Retrieved 7 September 2023.

External links