UNITED NATIONS - China warned at the United Nations Friday that Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian's pro-independence stance will threaten Asia-Pacific security.

Chen's move to organize a referendum next year on UN membership despite the opposition of the US and Chinese presidents was a "dangerous step," Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said at the UN General Assembly.

"If unchecked, this move will gravely endanger peace and stability across the Taiwan straits and in the Asia-Pacific region," he said.

China and Taiwan split in 1949, but Beijing regards the island as part of Chinese territory awaiting reunification and has threatened invasion if Taipei formally declares independence.

Yang said that the Chinese government had made every effort to promote "peaceful development of cross-strait relations and seek peaceful reunification."

"However, we will never allow anyone to separate Taiwan from China in any name or in any way," he warned.

- AFP /ls