Taipei: The United Nations has rejected Taiwan's proposal to become a member of the world body, announcing its adherence to the "one China" policy and its recognition of the Chinese government in Beijing. The application was returned by the UN Office of Legal Affairs, according to the UN's Chinese-language website. The United Nations rejected the application yesterday, citing a 1971 resolution, which stopped recognising the government in Taipei as the representative of China, swapping instead to recognise Beijing as China's sole lawful representative to the world body.

Taiwan and China split amid civil war in 1949 and since then have been governed separately. "This resolution determined that the UN carries out a one China policy," the UN said. Adherence to the "one China" policy, as practiced by the UN, means accepting that both Taiwan and China belong to the same national entity.

In Taipei, Foreign Ministry spokesman David Wang deplored the UN's decision. "We regret that the UN stalled the Taiwan application for political reasons," he said. "The 1971 resolution should be reviewed, as it fails to address the question of the right of representation and participation by the Taiwanese people."

Taiwan was expelled from the UN in 1971 when its seat, which it held under the name Republic of China, was transferred to the Beijing-based government of the People s Republic of China.