The 96th Independence Anniversary of the Republic of China (Taiwan) was on Wednesday celebrated at a spectacular reception, hosted at the Paradise Suites Hotel in Senegambia, with the two friendly allies renewing their commitment to further common aspirations.

Double 10, as widely known, is celebrated to remember the collapse of the Qing Dynasty and China’s imperialism. The demise of this authoritarian regime saw the establishment of a republic that streamed through democratic reforms; placing Taiwan as an icon of democracy in Asia-Pacific region.

This year’s anniversary in Banjul was attended by Secretaries of State, members of the National Assembly, members of the judiciary, security and media chiefs, heads of government parastatals, diplomats, scholars and academics, among other dignitaries.

Delivering his statement at the anniversary, Dr Patrick Chang, Taiwan’s Ambassador to The Gambia, thanked government officials and other dignitaries for joining them to celebrate the day. Ambassador Chang described this year’s anniversary as unique, as Taiwan, for the first time, applied for the UN membership under the name Taiwan.

Dr Chang then questioned the universality and impartiality of the UN, stressing that the 23 million people of Taiwan should be treated fairly by the international community. “If two Germany and two Koreas were admitted to the UN, why can’t the Republic of China (Taiwan) be admitted as well?,” he asked.

He said the continuous exclusion of Taiwan is being driven by territorial ambition of the People Republic of China (PRC). “PRC’s ambition to annex Taiwan is also shown by its deployment of close to 1,000 missiles across the Taiwan Strait, aiming at Taiwan,” he said.

“When President Chen Shui-bian submitted application to the UN Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon to apply for the admission of Taiwan to the UN on July 19th this year, his letter was dealt rudely and returned with the strong interpretation that Resolution 2758 solved the Taiwan issue. In fact, the Resolution only solved the representation of China in the UN. It did not solve the representation of the 23 million people of Taiwan, who are living independent of China and have never been represented in the UN,” he explained.

According to him, those who see one China, must not be oblivious of one Taiwan. “This is the reality of the world. The UN should accept this reality and abide by its Charter and principle of universality and refrain from discriminating against the people of Taiwan,” he emphasised.

The Taiwan’s Ambassador informed the reception that Taiwan’s application for UN membership was re-submitted with the help of its allies, adding that this application has generated more than four hour-long debate during the plenary session of the UN General Assembly, attracting 140 countries, including the 24 allies of Taiwan. He singled out The Gambia as the first country to speak up for Taiwan.

Ambassador Chang commended President Yahya Jammeh for the support, as well as members of his government and the Gambian people.

He then spoke at length on the bilateral relations between the two countries, detailing the numerous achievements in the areas of education, health, agriculture, and infrastructure.

For his part, Crispin Grey-Johnson, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, amplified Ambassador Chang’s remarks on the gains registered, under the framework of bilateral cooperation between the two countries. Secretary of State Grey-Johnson extended President Jammeh’s warm greetings and best wishes to President Chen, through Ambassador Chang. He then congratulated the government and the people of Taiwan on their national day.

The Foreign Affairs SoS told the gathering that the Gambia reciprocates its friendship with Taiwan, by standing steadfast to them, in its bid for international recognition, as well as its “just and legitimate call” for UN membership.

To this end, SoS Crispin Grey-Johnson reaffirmed: “We reciprocate this friendship by speaking up against the continued threat of aggression against Taiwan coming from across the Taiwan Strait. We reciprocate this friendship by calling for a demilitarisation of the Taiwan Strait. We reciprocate this friendship by our full support for Taiwan’s initiatives to protect itself, militarily against outside aggression.”

The reception was closed with a raffle draw that saw many dignitaries, especially those in the government circle, went home with a number of prizes.