ALEC Policy Champions in West Virginia Support Taiwan Participation in International Institutions

It is a profound honor to congratulate ALEC’s latest Policy Champions, ALEC 2025 National Chair West Virginia Senator Patricia Rucker and West Virginia Assistant Majority Whip Bill Ridenour, for their leadership in affirming Taiwan’s sovereignty and its right to participate in international institutions. The two legislators sponsored West Virginia SCR 15 and HCR 84, which passed out of their respective chambers in March, to help Taiwan realize full membership in the community of nations – a privilege it has earned. These resolutions are consistent with the ALEC Resolution to Oppose the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC’s) Misuse of United Nations General Resolution 2758 to Delegitimize Taiwan and Exclude Taiwan from International Organizations.

Sen. Rucker and Del. Ridenour serve on the ALEC Federalism, Homeland Security and International Relations Task Force (FHIR). They have participated in FHIR-hosted ALEC educational opportunities focused on equipping states to safeguard themselves – and the nation – against influence, interference, and infiltration by the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

“It is more important than ever to stand with our friends and allies as the world becomes more divided between those who wish only to exert control and those who support liberty and freedom,” observed Sen. Rucker. “With this Resolution, we stand with our friends from Taiwan who need our support.”

In December, members of FHIR adopted the model Resolution to Oppose the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC’s) Misuse of United Nations Resolution 2758 to Delegitimize Taiwan and Exclude Taiwan from International Organizations. Since then, state lawmakers introduced stand-alone resolutions, including Maryland’s HJ0007 Opposition to the People’s Republic of China’s Misuse of United Nations Resolution 2758 to Delegitimize Taiwan, championed by FHIR member Delegate Kathy Szeliga. Florida, Illinois, and Mississippi also adopted comprehensive Taiwan resolutions.

The PRC often distorts UNGA Resolution 2758, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in October 1971, weaponizing it against Taiwan. The Republic of China (ROC), also known as Taiwan, was one of the 51 original member states of the UN until the adoption of Resolution 2758, which recognized the PRC as the representative of the member state of China in the global body.

Shifting representative status to the PRC was never intended to settle the matter of the One China Principle (OCP), although the PRC has conflated UNGA 2758 with the OCP. Most alarmingly, the PRC is using UNGA 2758 to support Beijing’s view that Taiwan is a “renegade province” that needs to be reunified with the PRC by force if necessary. This interpretation of UNGA 2758 is inconsistent with international law.

PRC weaponization of UNGA 2758 has significant global implications, undermining Taiwan’s sovereignty and carrying strategic consequences for the United States.

• Taiwan is in the center of the “first island chain”, a strategically significant string of islands that stretch from Japan to the Philippines and Indonesia. The “first island chain” is vital to US force projection in the Asia-Pacific and serves as a deterrent to PRC aggression.
• The United States relies on Taiwan for technology items, most notably semiconductors. A loss of Taiwanese self-determination would negatively affect America’s international supply chains and national security. ALEC members adopted the Resolution to Prioritize Strengthening the U.S.-Taiwan Partnership to Enhance Global Supply Chain Security and Resilience to highlight this concern.
• Taiwan is regularly highlighted as a beacon of democracy in the Asia-Pacific, underscored in ALEC Congratulates Taiwan on the 113^th Double Ten Day. The annexation of Taiwan by the PRC would weaken democratic resolve in young, fragile Asian democracies.

Taiwan is barred from participating fully in critical international bodies, including the International Criminal Policy Organization (INTERPOL), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). However, Taiwan’s efforts for full membership and even participation are routinely blocked by the PRC.

• Taiwan’s exclusion from INTERPOL is inconsistent with the organization’s “vision” of “a world where law enforcement can securely access, share and communicate vital police information whenever and wherever needed, thereby supporting the security of the world’s citizens.” Taiwan has a strong willingness and ability to contribute to fighting transnational crime, including cybercrime, for which it is well-suited given its robust information, communications, and technology (ICT) sector.
• Excluding Taiwan from the WHO prevents Taipei from efficiently sharing best practices globally. Given Taiwan’s exemplary handling of the COVID 19 pandemic, Taiwan’s contributions in the health space are particularly valuable.
• Aviation safety is a global issue that requires participation by all members of the global community, and Taiwan’s exclusion is particularly risky as the Taipei Flight Information Region (FIR) is among the busiest in the world.

ALEC adopted the Resolution Supporting Taiwan’s Meaningful Participation in International Organizations Including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and INTERPOL as a response to the exclusion of Taiwan from these global institutions.

ALEC has long supported Taiwan’s right to self-determination and ALEC members have adopted model policies aimed at strengthening the US-Taiwan partnership for more than 15 years. ALEC members and staff have traveled to Taiwan to witness its vibrant, innovative economy and democratic processes firsthand, and both Senator Rucker and Delegate Szeliga participated in an ALEC delegation last summer. Fittingly, Taiwan is a centerpiece of the newly launched ALEC Center for International Freedom, which seeks to empower leaders where freedom is under threat and works to stem the erosion of democracy globally.

Congratulations to Sen. Rucker and Del. Ridenour for their leadership on behalf of freedom not just for Americans but for our partners around the world!