The United Nations has refused to accept a letter from Chen
Shui-bian to the UN secretary general, in which the Taiwan
authorities applied for UN membership under the name of Taiwan.
The UN Secretariat returned Chen's letter on July 20, which was
conveyed by the Solomon Islands and two other UN members a day
earlier, the UN's Chinese-language website said on Monday.
The decision to reject the letter was made in accordance with
Resolution 2758 of the UN General Assembly, which determined that
the UN adheres to the one-China policy, the world body said.
The rejection was welcomed by China.
China's permanent representative to the UN, Wang Guangya, said
the UN decision has maintained the solemnity of the UN Charter and
upheld the dignity of the world body.
Terming Taiwan authorities' application as a splittist move
which the Chinese government firmly opposes, Wang that only a
sovereign state is qualified to apply for UN membership according
to the UN Charter as well as relevant provisions of the UN Security
Council and UN General Assembly.
There is only one China in the world and Taiwan is an
inalienable part of the Chinese territory, and the government of
the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government
representing the whole of China, Wang said.
Taiwan has no qualification whatsoever to join the UN under any
name or in any way, as statehood is required for membership of the
world body, Wang said, adding the Chinese government highly
appreciates the UN decision.
On Oct. 25, 1971, the 26th session of the UN General Assembly
adopted Resolution 2758, deciding to transfer China's seat in the
UN to the government of the People's Republic of China.
(Xinhua News Agency July 25, 2007)
