As world leaders gather in New York for the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly, they do so under a lofty theme: “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers for All.”

Yet, as the Director-General representing Taiwan in Los Angeles ­– the United States’ gateway to the Indo-Pacific – I must ask a fundamental question. How can a global body claim to deliver for all when it systematically locks out 23 million people, an economy equivalent to the G20, the core of the world’s semiconductor supply chain, and a linchpin of regional peace?

Much of this exclusion stems from a modern-day telling of “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” For decades, Beijing has forced the international community to swallow its unilateral, false interpretation of UNGA Resolution 2758. If you read the actual 1971 resolution – which is barely 150 words long – the reality is glaring: the word “Taiwan” is entirely absent. It addressed only the representation of China, not the sovereignty of Taiwan. It is time for the free world to be the child in the crowd who points out the obvious truth, rather than buying into a fictional geopolitical narrative driven by authoritarian regimes.

For Taiwan, the quest for international participation is never about political ego. It is about our responsibility as a global stakeholder. When the doors of the international system are rudely and unfairly shut in our faces due to political coercion, the Taiwanese people do not simply stand outside shouting about unfairness. Instead, we continuously knock and offer, “Let us help. Taiwan can help.”

We saw this vividly this past May. While the World Health Assembly once again capitulated to political pressure and denied Taiwan a seat, the Taiwanese community here in Southern California was not wasting time complaining. Instead, members of the North American Taiwanese Medical Association were packing their medical kits, launching volunteer missions to the frontlines of global health crises. While certain actors were busy playing politics with global health, the Taiwanese people were already doing the work.

Excluding Taiwan goes far beyond diplomatic technicalities. It creates a dangerous geopolitical vacuum that emboldens authoritarian aggression. As AIT Director Raymond Greene, the top diplomat representing the United States in Taiwan, recently warned, a conflict across the Taiwan Strait could trigger global economic consequences greater than World War II. For Los Angeles, preventing this is a deeply local issue. With Taiwan standing as California’s third-largest trading partner, any disruption across the Pacific means empty docks at the Port of L.A. and immediate economic shocks to our communities. Meaningfully integrating Taiwan into the UN system is the best institutional deterrent that secures our shared daily prosperity.

From the COVID-19 pandemic to the war in Ukraine, the world has seen firsthand how democratic alliances are built on shared responsibilities, and witnessed the real-world dangers of allowing authoritarian pressure to dictate multilateral rules. International solidarity requires local courage. It is time for the UN to live up to its theme and restore trust by opening its door to Taiwan. The world is safer, healthier and more prosperous when every responsible partner has a seat at the table.

Jason Ma

Director-General

Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles