According to a MOFA press release, a total 15 head of states or representatives of Taiwan's 23 diplomatic allies spoke in favor of Taiwan at the Sept. 23-30 General Debate of the 64th U.N. General Assembly.

They are Palau, the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Burkina Faso, Sao Tome and Principe, Gambia, Tuvalu, St. Christopher and Nevis, Swaziland, the Solomon Islands, Belize, Nicaragua, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Samuel S.M. Kuo, deputy director-general of MOFA's Department of African Affairs, said at a regular press briefing Thursday that Fradique de Menezes, president of Sao Tome and Principe; Yahya Jammeh, president of Gambia; Blaise Compaore, president of Burkina Faso; and King Mswati III of Swaziland voiced support on Sept. 24 and 25 for Taiwan's U.N. bid. They said that Taiwan will make significant contributions to the U.N. specialized agencies, which at the same time will also benefit from Taiwan's participation, according to Kuo.

The also called on the world to consider Taiwan's legitimate right to participate in international organizations, he added.

The MOFA announced Sept. 21 that Taiwan will strive for membership in U.N. specialized agencies, rather than direct participation in the U.N. as it had been pursuing in previous years.

Taiwan will seek meaningful participation in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) , the MOFA said, calling for the two agencies to give favorable consideration to the needs of Taiwan's people and what they could contribute if admitted.

Taiwan has not been represented in the U.N. since 1971, when the Republic of China's seat was given to the People’s Republic of China.

Since 1993, it has been trying to have the world body consider the issue of its representation, but has made little progress largely due to China's obstruction.

Taiwan's allies and supporters have been trying to get the General Assembly to list Taiwan's application for admission on the U.N. agenda, but Beijing's claim that Taiwan is part of China has prevailed.

This year, the Taiwan government has come up with a more flexible and pragmatic approach that it hopes will allow it to better negotiate the complex situation.

It is hoped that Taiwan will first enter the ICAO as an observer this fall, and then gain admission to the UNFCCC after December this year, according to the MOFA.

(By Rachel Chan)