Fili’s world

The "Jerusalem Post " has an illuminating article about the recent visit made by 5 members of the Israeli Parliament to Taiwan and the ties formed between Israel and Taiwan despite the threats made by China.

This visit of the Israeli representatives comes at a crucial time to Taiwan as Taiwan attempts to re-join the UN for the 14th time. All previous attempts were unsuccessful due to pressure from the People's republic of China and Taiwan is deprived of international acknowledgment and support because of that policy.  Taiwan has recently launched a big campaign for their 14th bid called "UN-human" making a strong statement against the UN decision so far :

At a time when the affirmation and defense of fundamental human rights have become a universally acknowledged imperative, the Republic of China (ROC, widely known to the world as Taiwan), one of the world's staunchest champions of human rights, has been kept outside the UN door for 35 years. This exclusion deviates from the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, ignoring the fundamental human rights of the 23 million people of Taiwan and keeping them from contributing more effectively to the cause of human rights protection and promotion.

Taiwan's UN-human campaign includes an impressive website with a wide array of promotional audio/video/text information. Following is the Taiwan UN-human video :

"Taipei is likely to fail in the General Assembly this time too, because of objections from China, which claims sovereignty over the 23 million people who live across the Taiwan Strait."

The Taiwan-China issue is very sensitive to both sides, as it has been discussed a few times in this blog, and most countries of the world try to avoid disrupting China's 'face'. Although Taiwan's leader, Chen of the DPP, has clear views on Taiwan's move towards declaring independence :

"We see ourselves as a sovereign state already," he said. "Such bullying pushes Taiwan to the brink of independence. But the time is not yet ripe to formally declare independence."

The Jerusalm Post article gives a clear and interesting overlook on the Israel-Taiwan relations (a very long quote follows) :

Although Israel is not one of the 24 states that recognize Taiwan, the visit by the five MKs, led by David Tal (Kadima), is the latest sign of what has become a flourishing relationship between the two countries.

Israel abstained in Taiwan's most recent attempt in May to become a member of the World Health Organization, but the two countries signed a joint health agreement just two months ago.

In addition, there have been bilateral deals in agriculture, science and technology, and a delegation of Taiwanese agricultural experts was not even put off by the recent war against Hizbullah, visiting Israel in the midst of the conflict.

According to press reports in Taiwan, Taipei has also purchased arms from Israel. Among other things, Israel is said to have aided Taiwan in developing a 100-kilometer-range missile that would counter a missile threat from China. A report on GlobalSecurity.org claimed that if it were deployed, the Sky Horse missile would put the eastern part of mainland China within striking distance.

So as not to upset China, Israel follows the so-called "One China" policy of maintaining trade ties with Taiwan, but not diplomatic relations.

"The official position of Israel is what we call the policy of 'One China,' and this is the policy that most countries follow," Israel's new envoy in Taiwan, Raphael Gamzou, told the Post on Friday. Gamzou took up the post of "representative" at the "Israel Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei" just last month. Asked if Israel would consider voting in favor of Taiwan in the General Assembly on Tuesday, he replied, "There would not be a change of our position in that regard because of the 'One China' policy."

Gamzou, however, was quick to point to similarities and strong economic ties between Israel and Taiwan.

"We encourage cooperation between the two parties that could benefit both populations," he said, adding, "And we have a lot to learn from out Taiwanese friends."

Hovav Ref, who has been director of economic affairs at the Israel office in Taipei for two years, said the two countries "have very good synergy," because Israel is a leader in high-tech while Taiwan has become a manufacturing giant. Since exchanging trade offices in 1993, bilateral trade has soared, to more $1.2 billion dollars last year, with exports and imports "about even," Ref said.

[...]

"People in Taiwan do not have the right to be pessimistic," he said. "because a country like Israel, surrounded by Arab countries, has such a difficult situation to survive, and still has managed to unite together and develop economically so well, and to have good hope and a bright future."

Huang revealed, incidentally, that a meeting at the vice-ministerial level is to be held between Israel and Taiwan in Tel Aviv in December.

[...]

"This country used to be so poor that even a typhoon would not come and visit," Lu quipped. "But today we are known not only by Taiwan's economic prosperity, but also by the success of its democratization."