Rice Questions Taiwan's Continuing Bid for UN Membership

    U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice recently called Taiwan's attempts to gain membership to the United Nations under the name Taiwan a "provocative policy". She stated that Washington is opposed to Taiwan's plan for a referendum on the issue in the United Nations in March 2008, saying that it raised tensions in the Taiwan Strait "unnecessarily". In her denunciation of Taiwan's actions, Rice stated that they promise "no real benefits for the people of Taiwan on the international stage". Until 1971, Taiwan held a seat in the United Nations under the name "Republic of China". In 1971, however, a general assembly resolution was passed that expelled the Taiwanese representatives and handed the seat over to the Beijing government. 2007 marks the 15th consecutive year Taiwan has tried to regain membership to the United Nations. Previously, Taiwan had used the name "Republic of China" in their efforts to gain a UN seat. This year, they applied to the United Nations using the name Taiwan. China has claimed sovereignty over the island nation since nationalist armies fled the mainland following defeat in a civil war in 1949. They see Taiwan as a renegade province and its bid for a UN seat as a precursor to attempts to declare independence. China has threatened to respond to such a declaration with force. (Sources: BBC News) ......