Taiwan drops annual U.N. bid as China relations warm

[Coventina]

Source: Reuters

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan will drop for the first time in 17 years its annual bid to join the United Nations as island President Ma Ying-jeou seeks peace with long-time rival and U.N. heavyweight China, the foreign ministry said on Friday.

Taiwan, recognized by only 23 countries, failed in its previous 16 consecutive U.N. membership bids due to objections from China, which has claimed the self-ruled island as its territory since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949.

China, a U.N. Security Council member, opposes Taiwan's participation in any international body that requires statehood as a condition for membership.

"We're not making a proposal this year," said Taiwan foreign ministry spokesman James Chang. "That decision is based on our taking a look at the overall situation."



Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE5830QM20090904