The Philippine government Friday stressed the country's one-China policy and rejected Taiwan's appeal for Manila's help in its repeatedly foiled attempt to become a member of the United Nations.

 

Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said at a routine news briefing that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has just made clear the country's one-China policy during her three-day state visit to China earlier this month.

 

The spokesman was in response to an appeal made Thursday by Wu Hsin-hsing, head of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Manila, that the Philippines recognize Taiwan as a state and help it gain membership in the United Nations when the UN holds its General Assembly later this month.

 

On Thursday, Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Franklin Ebdalin also rejected Taiwan's appeal and said the Philippines adheres to one-China policy.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 11, 2004)