TAIWAN:The United Nations has again ruled out a role at the UN for Taiwan, a Taipei official said yesterday, despite a recent thaw in relations with China, which considers the island a breakaway province.
A UN subcommittee decided on Wednesday it would not let the general assembly consider Taiwan's request for permission to join UN activities, an island foreign ministry official said.
Fifteen attempts by Taiwan to join the United Nations have failed, the most recent last year. The United Nations ousted Taiwan in favour of China in 1971.
This time Taiwan was not applying for membership, just to take part in unspecified UN "activities".
China has considered self-ruled, democratic Taiwan part of its territory rather than a separate country since the island broke away from the communist mainland amid civil war in 1949.
But since taking office in May, Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou has declared a diplomatic truce with China. - (Reuters)