Lin Chia-lung urges international support for Taiwan's substantive UN participation

On the 25th, the Brasília-based publication *Correio Braziliense* published an op-ed by Taiwan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lin Chia-lung, titled "Taiwan, the United Nations, and the Maintenance of International Order: A Critical Moment for the International Community." In the article, Minister Lin explicitly called upon the international community to support Taiwan's meaningful participation in the United Nations, pointing out that such a move would not only enhance global collective security and technological resilience, but also counter the increasingly severe pressure of authoritarianism. The publication of this op-ed comes as the global political landscape stands at a crossroads due to great power competition and the reform of multilateral systems, through which Taiwan is signaling to the international community its desire to "exchange practical contributions for space for participation."

Since UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 in 1971 recognized the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate representative of China to the UN, Taiwan has been excluded from the United Nations and its specialized agencies. Since then, Taiwan has continuously faced diplomatic restrictions under the "One China" policy, retaining only a small number of diplomatic allies and repeatedly encountering obstacles in participating in international organizations. However, Taiwan's substantive contributions in fields such as public health, disaster relief, information technology, and the semiconductor supply chain are frequently overlooked by the international community. In recent years, with the global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan's successful epidemic prevention and vaccine research capabilities have drawn international praise, prompting lawmakers and civil society groups in multiple countries to call for granting Taiwan observer status in platforms such as the World Health Organization (WHO), demonstrating that "de facto international participation" is gradually achieving breakthroughs.

Brazil has long advocated for multilateralism and UN reform on the international stage. Although its official stance still adheres to the "One China" principle, discussions within its media and academic circles regarding Taiwan's participation in international affairs are becoming increasingly active. The publication of Minister Lin's article by *Correio Braziliense* symbolizes that Brazilian society holds an open attitude toward the concept of "measuring international participation by practical capability." This move may also have been influenced by the United States and European allies pushing for Taiwan's participation in global governance, as against the backdrop of intensifying US-China competition, many countries hope to balance regional security and supply chain stability needs by supporting Taiwan. The "technological resilience" mentioned by Minister Lin in the article refers precisely to Taiwan's leading position in semiconductor manufacturing and information security—fields that are crucial to the United Nations' capacity to maintain international order.

From the perspective of Taiwan's diplomatic strategy, Minister Lin's use of "meaningful participation" as a core vocabulary term reflects a new round of diplomatic deployment: no longer solely pursuing formal membership, but focusing on providing substantive contributions in specific issues or projects in exchange for observer or special advisor roles. This strategy has already yielded results in venues such as the World Health Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). If the international community can accept Taiwan's technical and humanitarian resources within the UN framework, it will help enhance the effectiveness of the United Nations in responding to global crises while simultaneously undermining the possibility of authoritarian systems dominating international norms through "exclusionary" means.

Finally, Minister Lin's appeal is not only a direct appeal to Brazilian readers, but also a signal transmitted to the entire world: at a time when the current international order is facing reshaping, Taiwan is willing to serve as a reliable partner in safeguarding peace and development based on practical contributions. Whether it is enhancing collective security, strengthening technological resilience, or resisting authoritarian oppression, Taiwan's participation has the potential to inject new vitality and diverse perspectives into the United Nations. If it can gain the support and cooperation of more countries in the future, Taiwan's role in the UN may shift from being "excluded" to becoming a critical turning point of being "recognized."