The Democratic Pacific Union, inaugurated in Taipei, Taiwan, Sunday, increased by two Monday its "charter member" nations to 28 nations, the number represented by governments and NGOs. The additions came when the charter was changed to include democracies "in and around" the Pacific Rim, but not communist China, the country in the region with the largest population of over 1.2 billion.

DPU founder Annette Lu, vice president of Taiwan, and newly elected honorary chair of the regional organization, announced the additions at the closing session where a unanimously-approved resolution was read out listing objectives.

The DPU, three years in the making, seeks to "uphold human rights, democracy, the rule of law, the freedom of the press and the independence of the judiciary."

In addition to encouraging cooperation among members, the new NGO seeks to establish in Taiwan, where the secretariat is located, visiting fellowship and scholarship programs, centers for democratic and women's development, disaster prevention and remote ocean sensing, a Pacific internet university and "a university at sea."

A center for economic development also was planned to coordinate the sharing of expertise and to promote sustainable trade and investment among members.

The resolution set out objectives for the fledgling organization as upholding "human rights, democracy, the rule of law, the freedom of the press and the independence of the judiciary."

Heavily funded by Taiwan industry, the resolution "acknowledged Taiwan's successful democratic and economic experience" and Lu's efforts to bring the organization into being. She called the DPU's establishment "a giant leap for the 23 million people of Taiwan."

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