Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung’s (林佳龍) Sept. 29 op-ed in Danish media claims China is deliberately distorting UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 in an attempt to bar Taiwan from international organizations and potentially provide a pretext for future military action, CNA reports.

Denmark’s independent news service Globalnyt published Lin’s op-ed in Danish on Thursday, titled “Give Taiwan a Place in the Free World” (Giv Taiwan en plads i den frie verden).

Lin writes that the rules-based international order is facing increasingly severe challenges, with authoritarian states attempting to rewrite the rules of the game to suit their own interests. Even the most fundamental principles of the UN Charter, the peaceful settlement of disputes and the prohibition of the threat of force, are now being openly challenged, he says.

The international community is at a crossroads, and not upholding the rule of law and safeguarding security risks allowing authoritarian states to challenge the free world and the right to self-determination, ultimately eroding democracy, the op-ed reads.

Lin notes that Taiwan has always stood at the forefront of defending freedom and democracy and will continue to maintain the status quo. He emphasizes that the Taiwan Strait is one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes and a vital part of the international supply chain, making regional peace and stability beneficial beyond the self-governing island.

UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 does not mention Taiwan or its participation in the UN system, Lin points out. Despite this, Beijing conflates it with their one-China principle, setting a dangerous legal precedent and providing pretext for potential future military action if it goes unchecked.

Foreign Minister Lin concludes by underscoring, “The free world needs Taiwan, and a stronger UN needs Taiwan’s active participation.”