As well as recognizing Taiwan as a democratic success story and as a valued partner and trusted friend, he added that Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the UN system is not a political issue, but a pragmatic one, given the tens of millions of passengers traveling annually through its airports, Taiwan’s world-class response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the injustice of Taiwan’s scientists, technical experts, business persons, artists, educators, students, and human rights advocates being blocked from participating in these activities simply because of the passports they hold.