Where can I find information on the 1971 resolution regarding the representation of China at the UN?
Last Updated: Oct 25, 2024     Views: 3438

On 25 October 1971, the General Assembly adopted A/RES/2758 (XXVI) on the Restoration of the lawful rights of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations, "recognizing that the representatives of the Government of the People's Republic of China are the only lawful representatives of China to the United Nations and that the People's Republic of China is one of the five permanent members of the Security Council." The vote, in A/PV.1976, was 76 in favour, 35 against, 17 abstentions, 3 non-voting.

The 1971 UN Yearbook contains a detailed description of the actions of the General Assembly in the section on Representation of China in the United Nations.

The first Security Council meeting at which a representative of People's Republic of China participated was on 23 November 1971, S/PV.1599.

According to the annotated draft agenda of the 25th session (GA/4220), "the question of the representation of China in the United Nations was first raised in 1949 by the Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China. It came before the Security Council in January 1950, when a proposal not to recognize the credentials of the existing representative of China failed to receive a majority of votes. The question was raised in the General Assembly later in 1950. From 1951 through 1960, the Assembly decided each year not to consider the matter." From 1961-1963 and 1965-1971, the item was considered in the Assembly.

Sources for the documents, decision making and voting information regarding the 1971 resolution include:

  • The meeting record with speeches by member states and voting details: A/PV.1976
  • Voting details for A/RES/2758 (XXVI) in the UN Digital Library
  • 8 draft resolutions plus amendments were introduced and discussed at this meeting. The text of the draft resolutions can be found in the Annexes to the General Assembly Official Records of the 26th session under agenda item 93: Restoration of Lawful Rights of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations (p. 554 of the Annexes)
  • At the next meeting of the General Assembly (A/PV.1977), agenda item 96 on the representation of China in the United Nations, was considered. The General Assembly decided not to take any action in light of the action taken on agenda item 93 at the previous meeting. The draft resolutions and letters related to Agenda Item 96 can also be found in the Annexes to the General Assembly Official Records (page 566)

The deliberations of the UN principal bodies in years other than 1971 can be found in the UN Yearbook. Citation to documentation is also available in the UN Digital Library and the Index to Proceedings.

Before 1971, representatives of the government of the Republic of China represented China in the United Nations.



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