TAIPEI, Sept 8: China has foiled Taiwan's bld to join the United Nations, prompting Taiwanese officials on Friday to accuse Beijing of "sinister behaviour." reports AP.

Taiwan's eighth attempt to enter the United Nations was expected to fail because of opposi tion from China, which Insists the island is a breakaway province that should not be treated like an independent nation. The two sides split amid civil war in 1949.

A UN steering committee decided Thursday night not to put the issue on the UN General Assembly's agenda. Taiwan's Foreign Ministry’ said.

Ure committee's chairman. Former Finish Premier Harri Holkeri, made the ruling after representatives from 47 nations opposed the proposal. Only 19 nations most of them small, developing African and Latin American allies of Taiwan supported the measure.

I The United States. Britain. France and Russia all penna nent members of the UN Security Council opposed the measure.

In a statement, the Taiwanese Foreign Ministry said. "We are angered by the Chinese communists' sinister behaviour."

Hie ministry complained that China blocked the UN application despite our government's repeated displays of goodwill and appeals for the’Chinese commu nlsts to cooperate with us and play a more positive role for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Aslan Pacific region.

The latest attempt to Join the United Nations was Taiwan's first since newly elected President Chen Shui-Blan s took office tn May.

China state-run Xinhua News Agency said Taiwan's UN defeat was a heavy blow" for Chens government. "It became clear that the new regime disregards past defeats and still wishes to regain access into the UN." the agency-said.