TAIPEI (TVBS News) — As the world converged in Baku, Azerbaijan, for the 29th United Nations Climate Summit (COP29) on Monday (Nov. 11), Taiwan, again, found itself on the outside looking in. Despite being a significant player in global environmental efforts, Taiwan's environmental minister was notably absent, resorting to an innovative approach by setting up a virtual situation room to keep tabs on the proceedings.
In an exclusive conversation with TVBS News, Peng Chi-ming (彭啓明) shared his dismay at being excluded from such a pivotal event. "As the minister of the environment, out of around 200 countries worldwide, I'm probably one of the very few environmental ministers who has not been invited," he lamented, highlighting the diplomatic challenges Taiwan faces.
While the summit runs until Nov. 22, Peng remains determined to make Taiwan's voice heard, drawing on his experience from attending 11 previous meetings as a private citizen. He emphasized, "We still have influences worldwide. I think the international society should treat Taiwan more fairly," urging for greater recognition and inclusion.
Meanwhile, Taiwanese non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have reported facing similar hurdles, citing Azerbaijan's historically unfriendly stance toward Taiwan as a barrier to their participation. This has led to complex visa application processes and limited their presence at the summit.