UNITED NATIONS: Taiwan's annual bid to join the United Nations failed for the 15th time in a row here on Wednesday.

The UN General Assembly's 22-member general committee agreed by consensus not to put the Taiwan membership issue on the agenda of the assembly's 62nd session which opened here on Tuesday, officials said.

The president of the assembly presides over this committee, which also has 21 vice presidents, including representatives of the Security Council's five veto-wielding permanent members (Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States).

Taiwan, under its official name Republic of China, lost its UN seat to China in 1971.

Taiwan's bids to rejoin the world body using its official title have been repeatedly shot down by Beijing, which sees the island as part of China, awaiting reunification.

In Taiwan, which is recognised by only 24 countries, officials said earlier Wednesday that they were mulling filing a lawsuit in the International Court of Justice if Taipei's latest bid for UN membership was blocked.

Taiwan and China split in 1949 at the end of a civil war won by the communists. Beijing has repeatedly threatened to invade the island should it declare formal independence.


- AFP/so