TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Australian senate voted to affirm that UN Resolution 2758 does not cover the issue of Taiwan’s sovereignty on Wednesday (Aug. 21).

Senators David Fawcett and Deborah O’Neill proposed the motion, calling out China’s distortion of the resolution. Their motion argued: “That United Nations Resolution 2758 of 25 October 1971 does not establish the People’s Republic of China’s sovereignty over Taiwan and does not determine the future status of Taiwan in the United Nations, nor Taiwanese participation in UN agencies or international organizations.”

Fawcett said China’s intentional distortion of the resolution “would weaken the UN’s integrity and increase challenges to the international rules-based order.”

O’Neill said it was important to call out China’s false claims over Taiwan via the resolution. “It’s crucial … we are strident in our condemnation of deceit and resolute in our promotion of truth and historical fact,” she said.

The senator also praised Taiwan as “a leading Indo-Pacific democracy” and said Australia and Taiwan are committed to upholding stability in the Indo-Pacific region.  

O’Neill and Fawcett attended the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China conference in Taiwan last month.

Senator Claire Chandler urged Australia to “be clear-eyed” about China’s intentions and aggressive behavior. She said Beijing’s distortion of the UN resolution is “of great concern for peace and security in our region.” 

Taiwan's Representative to Australia, Douglas Yu-tien Hsu (徐佑典), thanked the senate for passing the motion, per CNA. China has attempted to distort the resolution's content to claim sovereignty over Taiwan, which is unacceptable, Hsu said. He praised the united stance of democratic nations in resisting disinformation.