The unanimous passage of the motion demonstrates Canada’s bipartisan support for Taiwan and concerns about Beijing’s distortion of international law: MP Yves Perron.

Summary

November 7, 2024: The Canadian House of Commons has unanimously passed a motion asserting that UN Resolution 2758 does not confer sovereignty over Taiwan to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and does not dictate Taiwan’s future participation in the United Nations or any other international organizations.

Quelian Caucus MP Yves Perron and Liberal MP Judy Sgro introduced the motion on Wednesday. MP Perron said the motion was unanimously agreed by all parties before the meeting convened.

Canada has become the third country, following Australia and the Netherlands, and the fourth parliament overall to pass a motion regarding this issue.

The next day, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Canada published an article criticizing Canada for making “irresponsible remarks” about the Taiwan issue and for what they described as a malicious misinterpretation of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758. [See: “Canada Unanimously Passes Motion to Reject China’s Interpretation of the United Nations on Taiwan’s Status“]

A lack of representation in the United Nations General Assembly, prompted the Taiwan government to initiate an international campaign against the PRC’s misinterpretation of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, which Beijing uses to assert its claim over Taiwan and limit its participation in UN bodies. [See: “Taiwan’s Political Divide on Un Resolution 2758“]

Taiwan’s campaign has garnered support from global partners, evidenced by legislative motions in the Australian Senate and the Dutch House of Representatives that reject China’s interpretation of Resolution 2758. Additionally, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Taiwan International Solidarity Act, reaffirming that the resolution does not address Taiwan’s representation or sovereignty.

Despite international backing, Taiwan’s internal political landscape is fragmented. Three competing motions regarding Resolution 2758 have been proposed in Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan, each supported by different political parties. The ability to find common ground among these parties is crucial for effectively challenging China’s narrative.