China reaffirms firm opposition to "Taiwan independence"

BEIJING, Aug. 22 -- China firmly opposes any acts or words supporting "Taiwan independence," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said on Monday in response to Taiwan's possible application for UN membership.

According to reports, Tsai Ming Shian, a senior member of the "Taiwan United Nations Alliance," urged Taiwan's new leader Tsai Ing-Wen to write to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to apply for membership last week. The official in charge of foreign affairs in Taiwan replied on Thursday that the Taiwan authority will not promote efforts to join the United Nations.

Lu said it is known to all that the United Nations is an inter-governmental organization consisting of sovereign states. "Only a sovereign state can apply for a membership," he said.

There is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is a part of China, said Lu.

The Chinese government and people firmly oppose any form of "Taiwan independence" secessionist activities, said Lu.

"Any attempt to challenge the one-China policy or create 'two Chinas' or 'one China, one Taiwan' will not succeed," he said.