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The flag of Taiwan is painted on an island in front of the city of Kinmen, the site of the last major fighting between China and Taiwan in 1958
Photo: ANN WANG / REUTERS
China has emphatically refused to officially integrate Taiwan into the UN.
Taiwan has "no right to join the United Nations," a spokesman for the Beijing government's Taiwan affairs office said at a press conference on Wednesday.
The day before, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had called for Taiwan to be more involved in the UN system.
"The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization made up of sovereign states," said spokesman Ma Xiaoguang.
Taiwan, however, is "part of China".
Tensions between Beijing and Taipei have been increasing for years.
Beijing regards Taiwan, which split from China in 1949, as a breakaway province that should be reunited with the mainland - if necessary with military force.
Taiwan, on the other hand, has stated several times that the country is already independent, but only a few countries recognize Taiwan.
China's President Xi Jinping has recently repeatedly affirmed the Chinese claim to reunification with Taiwan.
In the past few months, incidents in which Chinese fighter jets penetrated the Taiwanese air defense space increased.
Most recently, US President Joe Biden caused a sensation with the assurance of military support from Taiwan in the event of a possible attack by China.
US Secretary of State for Taiwan's Participation in the UN System
Blinken called on UN members on Tuesday to "support a robust, meaningful participation by Taiwan in the UN system and in the international community."
Taiwan is a “democratic success story”, an important international player and a “valued partner and trusted friend”.
The US Secretary of State also emphasized that the involvement of Taiwan must be in line with the so-called one-China policy.
The US recognizes the leadership in Beijing as the sole government of China.
In 1971 Taiwan lost its seat at the United Nations in favor of the People's Republic of China.
svs / AFP / Reuters