The Foreign Ministry yesterday criticized a proposal by some countries to allow Taiwan to participate in UN agencies.

It urged these countries not to disturb the warming of cross-Straits relations.

As the UN and its agencies are "intergovernmental organizations composed only of sovereign states, the proposal by countries including Nauru and Gambia has encroached upon China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and interfered in China's internal affairs", the ministry's spokesman Qin Gang said at a regular press briefing.

"The Chinese government and people show firm opposition to that," he said.

Sixteen "diplomatic allies" of Taiwan submitted the proposal to the UN Secretariat on Aug 14.

When the 63rd Session of the UN General Assembly meets on Sept 16, the UN General Committee will decide whether to place the proposal as an item on its provisional agenda.

Previous proposals for Taiwan's participation in the UN or its agencies have all been rejected. Beijing regained its seat at the UN from Taipei in 1971.

"At present, cross-Straits relations have witnessed some momentum of improvement and development. Any attempt to create two Chinas or one China one Taiwan will have a negative impact on this momentum," Qin said.

On the issue of Taiwan people taking part in international activities, Qin said he was convinced the Chinese people across the Straits will "find a proper resolution through consultation" as the Chinese government "attaches great importance to the benefits of the 23 million Taiwan compatriots".

The Chinese Ambassador to UN, Wang Guangya, in a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon dated Aug 18, stated that Taiwan's participation in international activities was an internal affair of the Chinese people, which should be settled through negotiations.

The Taipei-based Central News Agency said on Wednesday that although the mainland government has never changed its principles on this issue, people can feel goodwill from Wang's remarks, which is in line with the latest improvement in cross-Straits relations.

Meanwhile, the US Department of Defense said on Wednesday Washington will sell 60 anti-ship missiles to Taipei in a $90 million deal, drawing an end to what analysts said had been an arms sale freeze between the two sides.

The harpoon air launch missiles made by McDonnell Douglas Corp can sink ocean-going warships. It is reported that Washington is still sitting on a $12 billion package of additional weaponry sought by Taiwan.

Admiral Timothy Keating, chief of the US Pacific Command, said last month that Washington had frozen arms sales to Taiwan.

(China Daily August 29, 2008)