Taiwan's diplomatic allies lined up to back its return to UN bodies during the General Assembly in New York, a modest but welcome boost for Taipei as pressure from Beijing grows.

• Palau's president Surangel Whipps Jr. called Taiwan an indispensable member of the international community and said it is already capable of joining the UN, the World Health Organization, and the international civil aviation body.
• He tied the Taiwan Strait, one of the world's busiest shipping routes, directly to regional security: keep the strait stable and the Indo-Pacific stays stable.
• Tuvalu's prime minister Feleti Teo marked 47 years of ties with Taiwan and said the UN should not shut out a country that contributes so much.
• Over a hundred officials attended, including leaders and foreign ministers from St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Paraguay, and the Marshall Islands.
• Taiwan's envoy to Washington thanked allies for standing with Taipei despite pressure from larger powers, and offered to share Taiwan's tech and economic know-how.

Outlook: The support is symbolic — Taiwan still has no path into the UN while China holds a veto — but it keeps the strait's security on the agenda of major powers.