In response to media queries on Taiwan's referendum to bid for UN membership, the MFA Spokesman said,
"These referendums served no useful purpose so far as Taiwan's membership in the UN is concerned. They were populist gestures made for electoral purposes which caused tensions in cross-strait relations. Whether they succeeded or failed was irrelevant from the very beginning and it was unfortunate that they were held in the first place. The UN Charter is clear that membership of the UN is not possible unless all five Permanent Members of the UN Security Council agree. Since the US, Russia, France and the UK all recognise the People's Republic of China under their 'One China' policy, and China is itself a Permanent Member, there can never be agreement on Taiwan joining the UN. Tensions in cross-strait relations can only constrict and not expand Taiwan's international space."
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
22 MARCH 2008