It came as no surprise when on Monday the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs returned the application signed by Chen Shuibian for Taiwan to become a UN member under its own.

The reason is obvious: The world body has no reason to accept as a member an island that has no sovereignty and is part of the People's Republic of China (PRC). UN Resolution 2758, adopted in 1971, made it quite clear that the government of the PRC is the sole legitimate government of China.

Another fact is that 169 countries have diplomatic relations with China and all acknowledge there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is a part of it.

It is ludicrous for Taiwan's authorities to make any attempt to seek independence as a sovereign state.

There is no legal basis for them to do so, as the island has been part of China for centuries and never been an independent sovereign state. It is because of this undeniable fact that the United Nations and the majority countries stick to the one-China policy on the question of Taiwan.

It is not difficult to see through the trick Chen Shuibian has been playing since he became leader of the island in 2000. Under his governance, Taiwan's economy is deteriorating and so is its social development. His reputation has also been tarnished by scandals about corruption involving his family.

"Taiwan Independence" has become a card he tries to play to provoke the mainland with a view to creating a crisis across the Taiwan Straits, which he hopes will divert the island people's attention from his corrupt government and the mess his incapability as leader has created.

With the ulterior motive of maintaining his position as leader he has tried to promote "Taiwan Independence" at the expense of its political stability and the well-being of its people.

Closer contact and cooperation across the Straits in recent years have benefited people on both sides. Anyone of vision should be aware of the fact that closer contact and final reunification with the motherland is where the future of the island lies.

But this has made Chen restless, fearing the trend will ruin his political ambition. That also explains why he is making all the attempts he can to seek "independence".

But his move against the will of the people is surely doomed.

(China Daily July 25, 2007)