Sydney: In an unusual diplomatic two-step, the US and Chinese presidents set aside their differences on Taiwan and put pressure on the island to drop plans for a referendum on UN membership. Presidents George and Hu Jintao warned Taipei that its proposed vote on whether to apply for United Nations membership under the name "Taiwan" was provocative and could propel the region into a "possibly dangerous period."

At a meeting in Australia ahead of the annual Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum summit, Hu said the move could destabilise the region and urged Bush to issue a stern warning to Taiwan. "President Hu Jintao stressed that this year and next year is going to be a highly sensitive and possibly dangerous period of the situation in the Taiwan Straits," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told reporters.

"He said that in disregard of the warnings and objections of the relevant parties, the Taiwan authorities wantonly push for the (referendum) for the membership of Taiwan in the United Nations," Liu said. "He told President Bush that more serious warnings should be given to the Taiwan authorities, to make clear to them that any separatist activities in any form will lead to nowhere," the spokesman said. Independence-leaning Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian has vowed to press ahead with the poll despite opposition from Washington and Beijing, which regards the island as part of its territory awaiting reunification.