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Taiwan has no right to join United Nations – China insists
China insisted Wednesday that Taiwan had no right to join the United Nations, after the United States ratcheted up tensions with a call for the democratic island to have greater involvement in the world body.
In a statement marking 50 years since the UN General Assembly voted to seat Beijing and boot out Taipei, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday he regretted that Taiwan had been increasingly excluded on the world stage.
“As the international community faces an unprecedented number of complex and global issues, it is critical for all stakeholders to help address these problems. This includes the 24 million people who live in Taiwan,” Blinken said.
“Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the UN system is not a political issue, but a pragmatic one,” he said.
“That is why we encourage all UN member states to join us in supporting Taiwan’s robust, meaningful participation throughout the UN system and in the international community.”
China considers Taiwan — where nationalist forces fled in 1949 after losing a civil war to the communists — to be a province awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.
It responded to Blinken’s statement with strident, albeit familiar, statements emphasising its position that Taiwan’s government had no place on the global diplomatic stage.
“Taiwan has no right to join the United Nations,” Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing, told reporters.
“The United Nations is an international governmental organisation composed of sovereign states… Taiwan is a part of China.”
The United States has long called for Taiwan’s inclusion in UN activities.
Defence of Taiwan
But the latest statement adds to an escalation of diplomatic rhetoric and military posturing over Taiwan.
China is regularly setting records for its number of warplane flights near the island.
US President Joe Biden last week told a televised forum that the United States was ready to defend Taiwan from any Chinese invasion.
Those comments were quickly walked back by the White House amid warnings from China, continuing a strategy of ambiguity on whether it would intervene militarily if China attacked.
The United States switched recognition in 1979 to Beijing.
But Congress at the same time approved the Taiwan Relations Act that obligated the supply of weapons to the island for its self-defence.
Blinken on Tuesday reiterated that the United States still recognised only Beijing.
But he emphasised the democratic credentials of the island of 23 million people.
“Taiwan has become a democratic success story,” Blinken said. “We are among the many UN member states who view Taiwan as a valued partner and trusted friend.”
Blinken pointed to Taiwan’s exclusion from meetings associated with the International Civil Aviation Organization and the World Health Organization.
He noted that Taiwan was hailed for its “world-class” response to Covid-19 — which largely spared the island after early intervention — and that tens of millions of passengers go through Taiwanese airports each year.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen welcomed Blinken’s remarks.
“Grateful for #US support for expanding #Taiwan’s international participation,” she said on Twitter.
“We stand ready to work with all like-minded partners to contribute our expertise in international organizations, mechanisms & events.”
The Oyo State Government has directed officials of the Ministry of Lands and Urban Development to halt the marking and demolition of houses situated beyond the 150-metre setback along the Senator Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road.
The decision comes as part of ongoing efforts to address the Oyo Govt Halts Demolition Beyond 150metres Along Ladoja Ibadan Circular Road of affected residents, while an enumeration of properties within the corridor is being conducted to ensure adequate compensation.
This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, Mr. Williams Akin-Funmilayo, during a joint press briefing on Friday with the Commissioner for Public Works and Transport, Professor Dahud Kehinde Shangodoyin, at the Ministry’s Secretariat in Agodi, Ibadan.
Akin-Funmilayo emphasised that Governor ‘Seyi Makinde’s administration remains committed to prioritising the welfare of its citizens, denying claims that the governor had extended the setback from 150 metres to 500 metres.
He clarified that no new land acquisitions had been made in the Circular Road corridor since Governor Makinde assumed office in 2019.
He explained that the 150-metre setback on both sides of the road was initially acquired in August 2006 during the administration of Senator Rashidi Ladoja. An additional 350 metres on both sides was acquired and gazetted by the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi in 2018.
“The governor has not acquired a single square metre of land along the Circular Road since 2019,” Akin-Funmilayo stated. “We are simply continuing with what was met on the ground, and we are developing the 150-metre segment for construction.”
He reassured residents that properties within the 150-metre boundary will be preserved, including housing settlements and villages, with no immediate plans for total clearance.
The commissioner also stressed that the current markings of buildings are for enumeration purposes, to assess affected properties for compensation and to prevent further unauthorised construction within the acquired land.
“Our focus now is on stopping new developments and determining the existing structures,” he explained. “The markings do not necessarily indicate demolition; they are part of the process to freeze further development and ensure proper compensation is made to those affected.”
The government, he added, has already started compensating residents whose properties are impacted by the project.
Akin-Funmilayo also instructed that no buildings beyond the 150-metre boundary should be marked or demolished at this time.
“We are taking every step to minimise the impact of the road construction on residents,” he said. “While some buildings will have to go, compensation will be paid fairly, and we are also exploring the option of providing alternate land to those affected.”
Prince Niyi Fasoye, speaking on behalf of the affected residents, expressed hope for more favourable responses from the government as the enumeration and compensation processes unfold.
The government has urged residents to support its efforts, assuring them that the project is being carried out in the public interest and not for personal gain.
The first phase of the Abuja Rail Mass Transit has transported over 250,000 passengers in just over 100 days since it began commercial operations.
This was revealed by John Zhao, an official of the China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC), which constructed and operates the rail system.
Zhao shared the update on his X handle on Friday.
According to Zhao, the rail network, consisting of two lines, covers a total length of 45 kilometers, with 12 stations across the city.
The trains have been operating safely, reaching a maximum speed of 100km/h, since commercial operations began on May 29, 2024, following its commissioning by President Bola Tinubu.
The rail lines connect the Abuja city center, the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, and the Kubwa satellite town.
Zhao highlighted the impact of the rail system on traffic in the city, stating, “The Phase 1 of the Abuja Rail Mass Transit by #CCECC has been operating safely for over 100 days! Consisting of 2 lines with a total length of 45 km and 12 stations, the maximum operating speed of the trains can reach 100km/h. It connects Abuja city center, the international airport, and Kubwa satellite town. During its operation, over 250,000 passengers have already been served, significantly reducing traffic congestion in the capital.”
Popularly known as the Abuja Metro Rail, the service has provided a vital link for commuters, easing the burden on the city’s road network.
Also, President Tinubu recently approved the extension of free rides on the rail system for another six months, until the end of 2024. This follows an earlier announcement by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, offering commuters two months of free rides.
Canada has announced an immediate end to the policy allowing holders of visitor visas to apply for work permits from within the country.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, highlighting the move as part of broader efforts to manage the number of temporary residents and maintain the integrity of the immigration system.
The statement noted that while the temporary policy was originally set to expire on February 28, 2025, the decision to terminate it was accelerated due to concerns over misuse.
“IRCC is also aware that some bad actors were using the policy to mislead foreign nationals into working in Canada without authorization,” the statement read.
The IRCC further assured that applications submitted before August 28, 2024, under the policy, will still be processed.
The policy was initially introduced in August 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, aimed at assisting visitors who were unable to return home due to border closures.
It permitted them to apply for a work permit without needing to exit Canada. Additionally, it enabled those who had held a work permit within the previous 12 months but had switched to visitor status to legally work in Canada while awaiting a decision on their new work permit application.
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