The Ministry of Foreign Affairs March 20 in Taipei City strongly condemned the Republic of Cameroon, host of the World Trade Organization’s 14th Ministerial Conference, for jeopardizing Taiwan’s right to attend that event as an independent member.
The MOFA pointed out that Taiwan applied to attend as a
separate customs territory rather than as affiliated with another member. However, the approved pre-enrolment issued February 21 designated the nationality as “Taiwan, Province of China.” The Permanent Mission of the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu to the World Trade Organization requested that the secretariat intervene and Japan, the U.S. and allies’ missions also urged the case.
Despite these appeals, Cameroon maintained that the erroneous designation was part of its diplomatic policy toward China, and prioritized its own bilateral policy above the interest of the WHO as a multilateral institution, the MOFA said.
The WTO’s ministerial conference is the organization’s highest decision-making mechanism and a meeting is held every two years. It is scheduled for March 26-29 at the Cameroonian capital, Yaounde.
Since Taiwan’s entry into WTO in 2001, it has participated in the ministerial conference 10 times. However, due to the host member’s failure to adhere to established practice, Taiwan announced its withdrawal on March 20.
As a member, Taiwan has solemnly protested against both the WTO secretariat and the Permanent Mission of Cameroon and has requested that future hosts undertake not to allow such a situation to arise again.
Taiwan will continue to work with like-minded members to safeguard its dignity and jointly defend the rules-based international economic and trade order. (POC-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw
The MOFA pointed out that Taiwan applied to attend as a
separate customs territory rather than as affiliated with another member. However, the approved pre-enrolment issued February 21 designated the nationality as “Taiwan, Province of China.” The Permanent Mission of the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu to the World Trade Organization requested that the secretariat intervene and Japan, the U.S. and allies’ missions also urged the case.
Despite these appeals, Cameroon maintained that the erroneous designation was part of its diplomatic policy toward China, and prioritized its own bilateral policy above the interest of the WHO as a multilateral institution, the MOFA said.
The WTO’s ministerial conference is the organization’s highest decision-making mechanism and a meeting is held every two years. It is scheduled for March 26-29 at the Cameroonian capital, Yaounde.
Since Taiwan’s entry into WTO in 2001, it has participated in the ministerial conference 10 times. However, due to the host member’s failure to adhere to established practice, Taiwan announced its withdrawal on March 20.
As a member, Taiwan has solemnly protested against both the WTO secretariat and the Permanent Mission of Cameroon and has requested that future hosts undertake not to allow such a situation to arise again.
Taiwan will continue to work with like-minded members to safeguard its dignity and jointly defend the rules-based international economic and trade order. (POC-E)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw
from Taiwan Today – Top News