A number of foreign countries have voiced opposition toward the Taiwan authorities' referendum on whether the island province of China should attempt to enter the United Nations.

The Indonesian Foreign Ministry said the move could cause new tension in the region.

"We oppose the Taiwan (Chen Shui-bian authorities') move because we do not want a new source of tension in the region," Foreign Ministry spokesman Kristiarto Legowo told Xinhua Wednesday. "We are consistent with our One-China policy," he said.

Sri Lanka's Foreign Affairs Ministry said Wednesday in a statement that the country remains firmly committed to the One-China policy and opposes any form of Taiwan independence and participation of Taiwan in any international or regional organization as it would be in blatant violation of established international norms and obligations enshrined in the UN charter.

It said that the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory, adding that the United Nations' General Assembly Resolution 2758 in 1971 clearly resolves China representation in the United Nations.

The Irish government reiterated Wednesday its adherence to the One-China policy, adding that it does not support Taiwan's planned referendum on UN membership in the name of Taiwan.

"At this time it is vital that any form of unilateral action that might undermine the status quo is avoided and I therefore do not support the holding of this referendum," Foreign Minister Dermot Aherne said in a statement.

Nepal's Foreign Affairs Ministry announced that the country has consistently followed the principled stand of the One-China policy and is firmly committed to upholding this principle.

It firmly opposes the proposed referendum on joining the United Nations under the name of Taiwan. "It believes that such an attempt by the Taiwan Authorities under any name or by any means would only lead to tension in the region," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press statement issued Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Chinese communities in the United States, Britain and Germany have also voiced opposition through different means against Taiwan's planned referendum on UN membership.

(Xinhua News Agency March 14, 2008)