Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Ambassador, I would like to return to the topic of Taiwan. Since it was expelled from the UN in 1971, Taiwan has been engaged in a kind of guerrilla diplomacy with the People's Republic of China, although it is a very unfair fight.
The People's Republic of China has been utilizing its tremendous demographic, economic and military power to undermine the remaining countries that still officially recognize Taiwan, such that fewer and fewer countries recognize it every year. As a result, Taiwan seems to be trapped, clinging stubbornly to the traditional position of seeking diplomatic recognition, which in turn places countries that are friendly to Taiwan, such as Japan, Canada and the United States, in an extremely difficult position.
Should we not try to circumvent this obstacle of diplomatic recognition? I was speaking with you informally before the Kiwa Initiative meeting, in which Canada and France are taking part. Is that not the kind of initiative that we should try to include Taiwan in so as to circumvent this difficulty and pitfall of diplomatic recognition, which leaves Taiwan in a weak position relative to the People's Republic of China?