Guyana’s position on the Chinese seat at the UN

Dear Editor,

There have been a number of responses to my letter published September 5, 2026 that dealt with Guyana’s response to an anti-China campaign, ignoring the fact that Guyana established formal diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China in June 1972. A campaign fuelled by an aggressive public relations outfit. My letter noted that no one should dictate to us who we should be friendly with. And herein lies a ticklish problem.

Some friends of mine, in response to that letter alleged that the Burnham-led government, immediately after independence did not support the idea that Guyana should have diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China.^[1] Because I have great respect for the person who called me, to make this assertion, I deemed it prudent to set the record straight.

Shortly after independence, when Guyana entered the United Nations in September 1966, the Chinese seat was held by the Republic of China ‘Taiwan’. In the annual Chinese-representation debates, two different questions became entangled: whether the People’s Republic of China (PRC) should represent China, and whether Taiwan’s representatives should consequently be expelled.

From 1966 through 1969, Guyana repeatedly voted for the so-called “Important Question” resolution, which required any change in China’s representation to obtain a two-thirds majority. Guyana voted ‘Yes’ on that procedural resolution in 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1969. This placed Guyana, procedurally, alongside the United States, United Kingdom and other governments seeking to make the replacement of Taiwan more difficult.

But that does not necessarily mean Guyana opposed PRC membership as a matter of principle. By 1970 the distinction had become explicit.

The decisive change: 1970 – The UN verbatim record of November 19, 1970 is particularly revealing. Guyana’s representative explained that Guyana abstained on both the Important Question resolution and the Albanian-sponsored resolution that called for seating the PRC while expelling Taiwan.

More importantly, he stated unequivocally: “Guyana is in favour of seating the People’s Republic of China in the United Nations.”^[1]

He referred specifically to Forbes Burnham’s position at the Lusaka Non-Aligned Summit of September 1970^[2], where Burnham supported the PRC’s right to representation both in the General Assembly and in China’s permanent seat on the Security Council.

Happily, as I prepared this letter both the governing PPP and the PNC I know support the One China Policy. Of course, not withstanding Guyana’s One China Policy, we learn of ambitious and ill-informed officials attempting to have intercourse with Taiwan, sometimes to the irritation of the People’s Republic of China. I therefore stand by the position stated in my letter that Guyana, led by the five persons named, established formal diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China in June 1972.

Editor and citizens what is of current concern is an apparent surrender to the wiles of “big brother”. A letter published in the Kaieteur News and Kiskadee Watch September 11, 2026 edition titled “Recolonisation is taking place” and “US has become a super colonial power imposing its will on other countries” respectively, written by former president Donald Ramotar is an extremely important matter.^[3] The contents highlight a threat to our sovereignty, an attack on our dignity, and an emasculation of our humanity. Guyanese everywhere and every institution should spare a moment to examine this matter. A matter that should provide common ground for all of us.

References

1. Green Sets Record Straight on Guyana-China Relations – Village Voice News — villagevoicenews.com ↩
2. 3 Summit Conference of Heads of State or Government of the Non-Aligned Movement — cns.miis.edu ↩
3. US as a super colonial power ↩