Overseas Chinese chant slogans during a meeting protesting against "Taiwan referendum on United Nations membership," in Manila, the Philippines, Sept. 14, 2007. More than 600 overseas Chinese in the Philippines attended the meeting Friday. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Overseas Chinese around the world on Friday strongly denounced Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian's attempt at Taiwan membership of the United Nations through a referendum.

    In Canberra, the Chinese community in Australian Capital Territory (ACT) condemned the move by Taiwan authorities.

    Chen Weidong, vice president of the ACT Council for the Promotion of the Peaceful Reunification of China, expressed his strong opposition and great indignation over the referendum plan.

    The plan is quite harmful to the relationship between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits and peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, he said at a symposium that gathered more than 40 Chinese community leaders and representatives of overseas Chinese in ACT.

    Taiwan, as part of China, has no right to apply for U.N. membership, because U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758, adopted in 1971, stipulated clearly that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate representative of China in the world body, he added.

    Han Xueye, acting president of the Federation of Chinese Community of Canberra, said the move by the Taiwan authorities totally disregards the interests of Taiwan's 23 million residents and the feelings of the Chinese nation.

    She expressed her belief that all overseas Chinese will do their best to oppose the Taiwan authorities' attempt to seek "Taiwan independence."

    Eileen Yang, vice president of the Australian Chinese Culture Exchange and Promotion Association, said peace between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits benefits not only economic development on the Chinese mainland, but also the interests of Taiwan's residents and overseas Chinese.

    She expressed her strong support for the policies of "One Country, Two Systems" and the peaceful reunification of China adopted by the Chinese government.

    Yang also said she supports the Chinese government's stance that the future of cross-Straits relations eventually lies in the hands of the 1.3 billion Chinese people, Taiwan compatriots included.

    In Manila, about 600 Filipino Chinese attended a meeting to express their indignation over Chen's attempt to seek "Taiwan independence" and his latest move.

    Li Rongxun, chairman of the Association of Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China of the Philippines, said Filipino Chinese will never allow Chen to split Taiwan from China.

    He said the future of Taiwan should be decided by 1.3 billion Chinese as well as 50 million overseas Chinese, instead of by manipulative moves of Chen such as the referendum.

    Representatives of other Filipino-Chinese associations and groups also severely condemned the move by Chen, which they said directly threatens peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits and Asia-Pacific region.

    The meeting also issued a declaration expressing full support to the Chinese government's stand on Taiwan, while calling for unified actions by all Chinese to stop any plot to split Taiwan from China.

    The Overseas Chinese Association in Mongolia also issued a statement, strongly condemning the proposed referendum on UN membership in the name of Taiwan.

    Resident Chinese in Mongolia are outraged by the referendum plan by Taiwan authorities who obstinately cling to their secessionist moves of seeking "Taiwan independence," the statement said.

    Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory and Taiwan authorities' U.N. membership bid will never succeed, the statement said.

    The referendum plan is no more than an attempt to cover up Chen's misdeeds and a "despicable trick" designed to stir up and distort public opinion on Taiwan, the statement added.

    The overseas Chinese in Mongolia support the Chinese government's policy of the peaceful reunification of the motherland and will never allow "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces to split Taiwan from the motherland, the statement said.