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BEIJING: China reacted promptly on Thursday to a failed bid by arch rival Taiwan to join the United Nations, saying it underlined that the island was "an inalienable part" of the mainland.
The UN General Assembly's 22-member general committee agreed by consensus on Wednesday not to put the issue of Taiwan's membership onto the agenda of the assembly's 62nd session, marking the island's 15th failed attempt.
"This shows once again no one can change the fact that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said in a statement posted on the ministry's website.
"Anyone who challenges the one-China principle and plots to split China will utterly fail," she said.
The one-China principle states that the mainland and Taiwan both belong to the same entity.
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 simply awaiting reunification.
The issue is attracting more attention this year as Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian has vowed to hold a referendum – on whether to apply to join the UN under the name "Taiwan" – alongside a presidential poll in March 2008.
In Taiwan, which is recognised by only 24 countries, officials said on Wednesday they might file a lawsuit in the International Court of Justice if Taipei's latest bid for UN membership was blocked.
Taiwan and China have been governed separately since the end of a civil war won by the communists in 1949. Beijing has repeatedly threatened to use force if the island were to declare formal independence.
- AFP/so
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