Havel appeared in Taiwan, where he opined that that country ought to be admitted into the UN. While Havel is a great and courageous man and the notion of welcoming Taiwan to the United Nations may have merit, the idea and the person who proposes it would incur the opposition of two very important players: the Republic of China and the Bush Administration. The former, of course, regards the Taiwanese regime as an illegitimate government exercising illegal authority over Chinese territory.
US government policy has long held that the Beijing government is the legitimate one for all of China, including Taiwan, while protecting the island country from any attack by the Chinese. The Bush Administration will not be anxious to retreat from that position. The ambiguity of it has been sufficient to stave off Chinese attack while the US develops ties with the mainland.
Meanwhile, it appears to me that one international statesman stands out as a great candidate for secretary general should the UN decide to replace Annan. I wrote Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit about this:
Vaclev Havel is a great man. But his indelicate suggestion that Taiwan be admitted as a member state of the UN will not only incur the wrath of China, but also be one reason the Bush Administration would offer to oppose his election as UN Secretary General. One doesn't have to disagree with Havel on this point; those are simply the hard political realities.
The UNSCAM scandal only underscores the credentials of another international figure for the position. After apartheid was dismantled in South Africa, it was Desmond Tutu who led the nation to justice and reconciliation. His courage is equal to that of Havel as is his commitment to democracy.
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