The United Nations has refused to accept a letter from Chen Shui-bian to the UN secretary general, in which the Taiwan authorities applied for UN membership under the name of Taiwan.

The UN Secretariat returned Chen's letter on July 20, which was conveyed by the Solomon Islands and two other UN members a day earlier, the UN's Chinese-language website said on Monday.

The decision to reject the letter was made in accordance with Resolution 2758 of the UN General Assembly, which determined that the UN adheres to the one-China policy, the world body said.

The rejection was welcomed by China.

China's permanent representative to the UN, Wang Guangya, said the UN decision has maintained the solemnity of the UN Charter and upheld the dignity of the world body.

Terming Taiwan authorities' application as a splittist move which the Chinese government firmly opposes, Wang that only a sovereign state is qualified to apply for UN membership according to the UN Charter as well as relevant provisions of the UN Security Council and UN General Assembly.

There is only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China, Wang said.

Taiwan has no qualification whatsoever to join the UN under any name or in any way, as statehood is required for membership of the world body, Wang said, adding the Chinese government highly appreciates the UN decision.

On Oct. 25, 1971, the 26th session of the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758, deciding to transfer China's seat in the UN to the government of the People's Republic of China.

(Xinhua News Agency July 25, 2007)