In a speech on Tuesday, Matthew Lee, Taiwan’s envoy to the Vatican, said ‘Communist China remains committed to making the Taiwan people irrelevant to the United Nations’
Taiwan accused Beijing of trying to make it “irrelevant” in the world community on Tuesday, after Beijing and the Vatican signed a landmark agreement improving ties.
Matthew Lee, Taiwan’s envoy to the Vatican, made the dig in a speech during a reception marking Taiwan’s national day that was attended by Vatican officials, including several directly involved in the negotiations with China.
“Communist China remains committed to making the Taiwan people irrelevant to the United Nations and to excluding Taiwan from playing a meaningful role both in the United Nations family and in the international communities,” he said.
Watch: The relationship between Beijing and Taipei explained
On September 22, the Vatican and Beijing signed a provisional agreement giving the Holy See a long-desired say in the appointment of bishops in China.
In the first concrete sign of a thaw after the signing of the agreement, the Vatican announced on Monday that Beijing would for the first time allow Chinese bishops to attend a major Vatican meeting, known as a synod, that starts on Wednesday.
Although the Vatican insists its deal with Beijing is not political – which Lee emphasised in his speech – diplomats say it is likely a precursor to the Vatican eventually switching diplomatic recognition to Beijing.
