Several of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies urged the United Nations to include Taiwan in its system this week, calling the exclusion of its 23 million people unacceptable and warning that shutting it out poses “unbearable risks” to the world.

Saint Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Terrance Michael Drew was the eighth allied leader to speak on Taiwan’s behalf this Friday at the U.N. General Assembly’s General Debate. Drew cited this year’s theme, “Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights,” to highlight what he called the contradiction of keeping Taiwan outside the U.N. system. He also raised concerns over tensions in the Taiwan Strait, emphasizing the strait’s importance as a commercial and human lifeline, and urged dialogue over confrontation.

Drew praised Taiwan’s contributions in public health, technology, and disaster response, warning that shutting it out poses “unbearable risks” to the world. Excluding Taiwan from organizations such as the World Health Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization weakens global efforts to solve shared challenges, he explained.

On Thursday, leaders from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize, and Tuvalu also voiced support for Taiwan’s international participation. Belize Prime Minister John Briceño invoked the U.N.’s own vision of “leaving no one behind,” saying it is unacceptable that Taiwan’s 23 million people remain excluded. Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Penitala Teo echoed Taiwan’s position that U.N. Resolution 2758 does not preclude the island’s meaningful participation, calling on the organization to admit Taiwan and its agencies as members.