China's UN Ambassador Wang Guangya on Wednesday denounced Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian's second letter to the United Nations relating to Taiwan’s membership bid, dismissing it as another "petty trick" by an "international troublemaker."

Wang said he returned the letter on Tuesday as current president of the UN Security Council, saying he expected the UN Secretariat would soon follow suit since it returned Chen’s first letter on July 20.  

The ambassador viewed Chen Shui-bian's "petty trick" as a severe separatist move aimed at "Taiwan independence" and had cemented his reputation as a "downright international troublemaker."  

"As is widely known, there is but one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China," Wang said. "China's representation naturally covers Taiwan."

Taiwan, as a part of China, has thus no qualifications or rights to join the United Nations under any name or in any way, he stressed.

"This is a stand generally upheld by the international community and is fully in line with principles laid down in the UN Charter," Wang said.

Chen Shui-bian's repeated attempts to challenge the UN Charter, Resolution 2758 of the UN General Assembly and the one-China principle are extremely unpopular and doomed to failure, the ambassador said.

Wang said China further appreciates the United Nations' resolute adherence to the one-China stance and its maintenance of General Assembly Resolution 2758. He said he believes the government and people of China will continue to have the understanding and support of the UN.

(Xinhua News Agency August 2, 2007)