The Foreign Ministry said yesterday that secessionist moves by Taiwan authorities disguised as health initiatives "will not succeed."

Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao made the remarks in response to a question concerning Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian's application for membership for Taiwan in the World Health Organization (WHO). Chen wrote to the WHO chief recently, requesting the island be admitted as a member of WHO under the name of Taiwan.

"WHO is a specialized UN agency, whose membership is only open to sovereign states," Liu said, adding that Taiwan is neither eligible to join nor to apply for membership.

The rejection of the letter by the WHO Secretariat complies with UN agency regulations, Liu added.

Taiwan has repeatedly sought observer status at WHO over the past 10 years, but has never succeeded.

(Xinhua News Agency April 26, 2007)