Image credits : Reuters
China on Saturday, 9th December formally raised objections at the UN climate talks in Dubai after calls emerged to include Taiwan, the self-governing island claimed by Beijing. During the COP28 conference, Guatemala and Nauru, two of the few remaining countries recognizing Taiwan, expressed support for Taiwan’s participation.
In response, a representative from Beijing exercised the right to respond and raised objections. The Chinese delegate, speaking through a translator in the plenary hall, criticized a “handful of countries” for ignoring Taiwan’s status as an “inalienable part of China” and expressing support for Taiwan’s participation in COP discussions. The delegate deemed this stance as “unacceptable” and requested the objection to be officially recorded without specifying the countries being criticized.
Addressing the COP28 conference, Marco Vinicio Ochoa, a vice minister from Guatemala, specifically acknowledged Taiwan’s contributions to international cooperation in climate change projects. “Therefore, we call for them to be able to participate in this important forum,” he stated.
The representative from Beijing emphasized that the Taiwan region can contribute to global climate change efforts through existing arrangements. Taiwan, officially the Republic of China, was expelled from the United Nations in 1971, and China has been pressuring countries to refrain from recognizing Taiwan.
Despite the lack of formal recognition, Taiwan has submitted a climate change action plan to the UN climate body in line with the 2015 accord. In Dubai, Taiwan also took steps to highlight its climate activities through advertisements in public spaces. As tensions over Taiwan’s status continue, the debate over its involvement in international forums like COP28 adds another layer to the complex relationship between Taiwan and China.
As climate change becomes an increasingly pressing global issue, discussions at forums like COP28 intertwine with broader geopolitical complexities. The clash over Taiwan’s participation reflects not only the island’s determination to engage in crucial international dialogues but also the challenges posed by its unique diplomatic status and China’s assertive opposition to any form of recognition for Taiwan on the global stage.