Taiwan Barred from WTO Ministerial; US Lawmakers Send Letter of Concern

Host Cameroon of the 14th World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial conference downgraded Taiwan, leading to Taiwan's forced absence from the meeting in March. 26 bipartisan US lawmakers wrote a joint letter to WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on the 14th expressing serious concern, and Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung expressed his sincere gratitude today, affirming he will defend Taiwan’s rightful rights and dignity. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) issued a press release this afternoon stating that regarding Cameroon's downgraded naming during the March WTO ministerial conference, which caused Taiwan to be forced to miss the meeting, 26 bipartisan US lawmakers wrote a joint letter to Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on the 14th to express serious concern, demanding the secretariat ensure such events that harm member rights do not happen again. Lin Chia-lung expressed his sincere gratitude for this. MOFA stated that Linda Sánchez, Democratic Ranking Member of the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, and Adrian Smith, Republican Chairman, along with Judy Chu, Democratic Vice-Chair of the committee, led 26 bipartisan US lawmakers in signing the letter to Okonjo-Iweala. The letter points out that after Taiwan joined the WTO in 2002, its status as a 'separate customs territory' has been respected, and it has enjoyed full and equal rights to participate in ministerial conferences along with other members. However, the Cameroonian visa listed Taiwan as 'Taiwan, Province of China,' implying Taiwan is not an 'independent' WTO member, a move that damages Taiwan's rights as a formal WTO member. MOFA mentioned that the 26 lawmakers requested Okonjo-Iweala to respond to the following two questions by June 3: first, how the WTO Secretariat will ensure similar incidents do not set a precedent for future ministerial conferences; and second, whether the WTO Secretariat has formulated written guidelines to ensure such events that harm member rights do not occur again. MOFA stated that Lin Chia-lung thanked the US Congress friends for their firm support, and Taiwan will continue to cooperate closely with like-minded members to defend Taiwan's due rights and dignity.