"This is a fact known to all," said ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi, following the unanimous decision of the 54th WHA earlier Monday to exclude from its agenda a proposal submitted by a handful of countries, including Honduras, to "invite Taiwan to attend the WHA with observer's status."

This once again smashed the Taiwan authorities' scheme to participate in the WHA and other activities of the WHO, Sun said.

The proposal was nothing but an attempt to create "two Chinas," or "one China, one Taiwan" within the WHO, he said, adding that this is against the relevant resolutions of the UN Assembly and the WHA, and the general principles of international law.

It is definitely objected to by the Chinese government, the Chinese people and all the nations of the world who uphold justice, and disdained by the international community, said the spokesman.

He stressed that the Taiwan issue is an internal affair of China, and no other nation has the right to interfere in it. The Chinese government firmly objects to any party engaging in activities aimed at splitting China on the excuse of the health issue, and to any country's interference in China's internal affairs, he said.

"We firmly believe that the just cause of the Chinese government and people in maintaining national sovereignty and territorial integrity will continue to be understood and supported by countries and peoples of the world who uphold justice," said the spokesman.

(People's Daily 05/15/2001)