NOTE: This is supposed to be a speech! This was the case that my partner and I were running, until we found a large "hole" in it. Please tell me if this "1AC" has convinced you to vote for Taiwan Membership. I would also love feedback on anything you might find that weakens this case. (By the way, the greyed out words are supposed to be greyed out)

Eric Ting-Lun Huang (PhD Political Science, New York University) "Taiwan's Status in a Changing World: United Nations Representation and Membership for Taiwan," Published in the Annual Survey of International & Comparative Law: Vol. 9: Iss. 1, Article 4. [Fall 2003] Accessed via Lexis Nexis [Brackets added]

“If Taiwan were a UN member state, greater access to information about potential threats to the peace of the Taiwan Strait would enhance the UN's ability to launch any necessary measures to maintain a helpful role. Here the Korean model can be used for Taiwan's membership in the UN that would allow both the PRC [China] on the mainland and the ROC [Taiwan] on Taiwan to have UN membership. In this case, the major positive vision would be for the ROC to seek its peaceful coexistence and cooperation with the PRC in the UN and thus, they can settle any dispute between them through peaceful dialogue.”

Unfortunately, these advantages cannot be possessed thanks to the One China Policy (resolution 2758), which “restores” all of China’s rights, and also made it so that only one representative could represent China, and that was the PRC (Peoples Republic of China, or China) not the ROC (Republic of China, or Taiwan).

   This is why my partner and I are Resolved: that the United Nations should be significantly be    reformed or abolished. Criterion: The criterion, or weighing mechanism to help you judge this round, is the preservation of international peace (one of the United Nation’s key missions). Whichever team best preserves international peace in this round should get your vote in the ballot.

Inherency

Now let me show you what is going on in the current situation:

Fact 1: China plans to conquer Taiwan

Michael Richardson, (Reporter for the Examiner) August 30, 2010, [brackets in original] {braces added for clarification} http://www.examiner.com/article/pentagon-report-on-china-warns-of-military-build-up-against-taiwan

“Now, with startling military statistics, the Defense Department has highlighted the urgency facing the situation. While the United States has postured about its role in Taiwan’s future the Chinese have been busy working to take the island by force.

“China’s military build-up opposite the island continued unabated. The PLA [People’s Liberation Army]  {China’s military} is developing the capability to deter Taiwan independence or influence Taiwan to settle the dispute on Beijing’s terms while simultaneously attempting to deter, delay, or deny any possible U.S. support for the island in case of conflict. The balance of cross-Strait military forces continues to shift in the mainland’s favor.”

“China continues to deploy many of its most advanced systems to the military regions opposite Taiwan.”

‘China has the most active land-based ballistic and cruise missile program in the world.”

“By December 2009, the PLA {China} had deployed between 1,050 and 1,150 CSS-6 and CSS-7 short-range ballistic missiles to units opposite Taiwan.”

“China bases 490 combat aircraft within unrefueled operational range of Taiwan, and has the airfield capacity to expand that number by hundreds.”

“The PLA {China} has about 1.25 million personnel in its ground forces, with roughly 400,000 based in the three [military regions] opposite Taiwan.”

“Security in the Taiwan Strait is largely a function of dynamic interactions between and among mainland China, Taiwan, and the United States….On the mainland, Beijing’s strategy towards Taiwan continued to incorporate elements of persuasion and coercion to deter or repress the development of political attitudes in Taiwan favoring independence.”

“Alongside positive public statements about the Taiwan Strait situation from top leaders in Beijing following the election of Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou, however, there have been no signs that Beijing’s military dispositions opposite Taiwan have changed significantly.”

“The PLA {China} has developed and deployed military capabilities to coerce {pressure} Taiwan or to attempt an invasion, if necessary.”

“The PLA {China is} capable of increasingly sophisticated military action against Taiwan.”

“The PLA {China} is capable of accomplishing various amphibious operations short of a full-scale invasion of Taiwan.””

As we can see, one of China’s main goals is to take the island of Taiwan. This is a priority for China’s military. It’s only a matter of time before China unleashes the actual invasion of Taiwan. This would be a breach on international peace, as seen in the Harms.

Harm 1: UN failing at mission

According to the United Nations charter, under the preamble it says: http://www.un.org/en/documents/charter/preamble.shtml

“AND FOR THESE ENDS

to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours, and

to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and

to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and

to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples,”

§           The United Nations is failing at its own mission of international security when it is so able to help. If it would only allow Taiwan membership, the invasion of Taiwan will be prevented, and also prevent the next harm which is:

Harm 2: International Peace Breach

Richard Halloran (Journalist, Political Analyst) “U.S. must defend Taiwan against China” Honolulu Advertiser on July 15, 2007 [brackets added for clarity] http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Jul/15/op/FP707150348.html

“The consequences of U.S. failure to defend Taiwan would be profound. Said an experienced China watcher: "There is no upside to this." Acquiescing [agreeing] in China's takeover of Taiwan would: “Damage, and possibly destroy, the U.S. reputation as a reliable ally in the eyes of treaty partners in South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Thailand and Australia. The same would be true of friends in Singapore, Indonesia and India.
Jeopardize U.S. naval supremacy in the western Pacific and give China control of the northern entrance of the South China Sea, through which passes more shipping than through the Suez and Panama canals combined.
Undercut the ability of any administration in Washington, Republican or Democratic, to persuade other nations to become democratic.”

It is frightening to think about what may happen if China attacks Taiwan. But as the evidence showed, war is a very distinct possibility, especially since the U.N. can do nothing about it, unless they admit Taiwan into the United Nations. To better preserve international peace and security and to solve the harms, the Affirmative team presents the following plan:

Plan

Agency/Enforcement: The U.N. General Assembly/UN Security Council.

Funding: Our plan requires no funding since it is strictly legislative.

Timeline: This will all take place by the next General Assembly meeting.

Mandate 1: Abolish “One China” policy

The U.N. General Assembly and Security Council will abolish resolution 2758.

Mandate 2: Taiwan Acceptance at U.N.

The UN Security Council will recommend and accept Taiwan’s application for UN membership. The UN General Assembly would then accept Taiwan’s application for membership.

Here is an expert that advocates our plan.

Solvency 1: Taiwan Membership is needed.

Dr. Vincent Wei-Cheng Wang [PhD, Political Science, Associate Dean at the University of Richmond] “Does Democratization Enhance or Reduce Taiwan’s Security?” Testimony before the United Nations, 2007. Paper published by the American Political Science Association, [Brackets included in original] {Braces added for clarification} https://facultystaff.richmond.edu/~vwang/publications/democratization.pdf

“The UN, however, will not be entirely powerless [in case of conflict between Taiwan and China] under that scenario. First, action taken under Chapter VI (pacific settlement of disputes) of the Charter can proceed unhindered by Beijing. Article 27(3) stipulates that “in decisions under [Chapter] VI . . . a party to a dispute shall abstain from voting.” Scheffer thus opines that the Security Council can use a wide range of means in response to a PRC [Chinese] attack on Taiwan, including the sending and stationing of peace-keeping forces on Taiwanese territories. The UN, therefore, can be used to intervene on behalf of Taiwan in the event of a PRC {Chinese} attack. This institutional characteristic of the UN makes it even more important for Taiwan to join the UN, because membership for Taiwan would preclude a PRC{Chinese}-Taiwan conflict's being considered an internal one.”

This shows that the U.N. has the power to help Taiwan, as long as Taiwan can get representation within the General Assembly. Therefore, if Taiwan joins the U.N., war with China will be averted, thus promoting international peace.

Now we come to the Advantages of our plan.

Advantage 1: War with China averted.

Like I stated before, our plan would stop a war between China and U.S. Judge, please note that peace is of the utmost importance, because if you don’t have peace, you have war or violence, which is destructive to any nation. Besides, one of the main goals of the United Nations is the preservation of international peace, and with this plan, you, judge, will be helping them.

Advantage 2: U.N Benefits

By Saadallah Al Fathi (Advisor at Dome International Petroleum; was President of Oil Refineries and Gas Processing Adminstration Ministry of Oil) “Taiwan Miracle is a good example economic progress for others” Gulf News September 9, 2012 accessed 09/15/12 -- http://gulfnews.com/business/opinion/taiwan-miracle-is-a-good-example-economic-progress-for-others-1.1071868
  “To cut the story short, one has to remember that in 1962, Taiwan had a per capita gross national product of $170, which grew rapidly such that by 2010 it became $35,227 adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) closely similar to that of Germany at $36,033 in the same year.”

That would put Taiwan in the top 25 richest nations per person, which if you think about, is pretty high. Taiwan would be a good addition to the UN. Instead of having to get loans from the UN all the time as some countries do, Taiwan would actually be a donor. It would be a gain for the UN.

Advantage 3: International Peace Preserved

The people of Taiwan have declared themselves separate from the communist government of China. Taiwan is not being represented in the U.N. because of the One China Policy, and this is actually going to create the opposite of international peace, when the U.N. is so able to help, the United Nations will be failing at its mission. With this plan, you, judge, will be helping with the preservation peace.

Judge, we have seen that there is harm in the current situation, and by not accepting Taiwan in the U.N. there will be disastrous results that will affect the whole world. For the preservation of international peace I ask you to consider the affirmative team’s stance.

Thank you.

{I am now ready for Cross Examination from the Negative team}

Thank you.