Authored by Dr. Lin Chia-lung, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the ROC (Taiwan), this opinion piece outlines growing threats to the global rules-based framework, arguing that authoritarian powers are actively eroding long-standing international safeguards to rewrite global norms in their favor. Even core UN Charter principles — including the peaceful resolution of disputes and the ban on the threat or use of military force — are now facing open, brazen violations.
The global community now stands at a defining crossroads, Lin argues. Global actors can either coordinate to uphold international justice, defend the rule of law, and preserve global peace and security, or allow the existing world order to collapse, taking with it the global protections for freedom, self-determination, and democratic governance. This stark choice is most visible in the Indo-Pacific’s first island chain, where regional security has come under mounting pressure from China. According to Lin, China has consistently deployed gray-zone tactics — ranging from military intimidation and cyberattacks to economic coercion — to unilaterally alter existing regional rules and norms.
As a frontline defender of freedom and democracy, Taiwan remains committed to upholding the cross-strait status quo. But Lin emphasizes that preserving regional peace and stability is not exclusively a Taiwanese interest; it is a shared priority for the entire international community.
The Taiwan Strait stands as one of the world’s busiest maritime shipping routes and a critical artery for global supply chains. Its importance to global security and economic prosperity has been repeatedly highlighted in official statements from the G7, as well as in multilateral and bilateral meetings between the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and other like-minded nations. A growing global coalition has publicly emphasized the indispensable value of maintaining cross-strait peace and stability.
Lin also draws attention to another growing threat to the integrity of the rules-based order: China’s deliberate distortion of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758. Adopted in 1971, the resolution only addresses China’s seat representation at the United Nations; the original text makes no mention of Taiwan, does not rule on Taiwan’s political status, and does not bar Taiwan from participating in the UN system. Despite this, Lin argues that China has falsely conflated Resolution 2758 with the so-called “one China principle,” using the misrepresented resolution to block Taiwan’s access to the UN and other international intergovernmental bodies. If this distortion is left unchallenged, Lin warns, it will set a dangerous legal precedent that could be used as a pretext for future military aggression against Taiwan across the Taiwan Strait.
Even though Taiwan is currently excluded from UN membership, Lin stresses that Taiwan remains committed to contributing positively to global collective action. Taiwan’s unique strengths in advanced manufacturing, disaster response, and public health create meaningful opportunities to support global public goods, he notes.
Taiwan has pursued what Lin calls a “value-added, integrated foreign policy” centered on deepening democratic alliances, advancing collective security, and building global economic resilience. In partnership with like-minded nations, Taiwan works to advance democratic governance, human rights, and individual freedom across the globe. As a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and cutting-edge technology, Taiwan is committed to developing supply chains that are secure, resilient, and not dependent on authoritarian regimes, Lin says.
Through the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project, Taiwan also works to foster shared economic growth with its diplomatic partners. Taiwan shares its technical expertise and resources to develop technology-focused development projects with partner nations, helping them address local development challenges and build domestic capacity.
Concrete examples of these successful collaborations, Lin notes, include the development of an integrated national healthcare information system with Paraguay, the construction of a strategic oil reserve facility in Eswatini, and a partnership with Palau National Hospital to roll out smart healthcare infrastructure. These initiatives have improved local data management and operational efficiency, strengthened national energy security, supported industrial growth, and advanced the UN Sustainable Development Goals in partner nations.
Khalilur Rahman, President-elect of the upcoming 81st United Nations General Assembly, has identified restoring global trust in multilateral institutions and managing UN institutional transformation as the core themes of his presidency. Lin confirms that Taiwan fully shares these goals and stands ready to contribute to achieving them.
Lin argues that restoring global confidence in the United Nations must start with fair and equitable treatment of all members of the international community. True institutional transformation cannot be achieved when a constructive, reliable stakeholder is unjustly locked out of the system, he says.
Lin closes with a call on the international community to uphold core principles of inclusive multilateralism, leaving no nation behind, peaceful dispute resolution, and the rejection of threats or the use of force. These are the foundational values that underpin the rules-based international order, and they must be applied consistently, without exception, he argues.
“The free world needs Taiwan — and a stronger, more credible United Nations needs Taiwan’s meaningful participation,” Lin writes. Working collaboratively with Taiwan will strengthen global collective security, boost global economic and technological resilience, and expand the global capacity to push back against authoritarian pressure. Ensuring Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the United Nations system is therefore a critical step toward building a more inclusive, secure, resilient, and rules-based global order, Lin concludes.
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