Taipei, JULY 20, SPA -- A persistent Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian hasmade yet another attempt to join the United Nations in the name ofTaiwan - this time writing to the UN secretary general directly topress for his bid, DPA QUOTED his chief aide as saying Friday. "Our New York colleagues submitted an application signed byPresident Chen Shui-bian to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon on thenight of July 19, seeking to join the United Nations in the name ofTaiwan," said Chen Chi-mai, deputy secretary-general of thePresidential Office. This was a second attempt by the island's leader to ask to jointhe United Nations in the name of Taiwan since he made a similarrequest earlier this year, only to be snubbed by the UN Secretariat,which insisted the island's application was a "non-issue." Taiwan has applied each year to join the UN since early 1990s, butit has used its official "Republic of China" to apply to join theglobal body. Chen's deputy secretary-general noted Friday that because therequest to join the United Nations under its official title has beenignored by international society in the past 14 years, President Chenhas decided to use the "Taiwan" title to apply for membership. He said Taiwan is entitled to join the United Nations, given itseconomic magnitude as being the 18th biggest economy, the 16thlargest trading country and the 7th largest investor in the world. For the sake of equality and fairness and the right of 23 millionTaiwanese, the United Nations should accept Taiwan as a member, thedeputy secretary-general said. The United Nations ousted Taipei, which used to hold the Chinaseat in the UN, to admit Beijing as the legitimate representative ofChina in 1971. Taiwan and China split at the end of a civil war in 1949, butBeijing continues to see the island as a Chinese province which hasno sovereignty power. Beijing has strongly opposed Taiwan's accession to anyinternational organizations which require statehood forparticipation. It has lashed out at President Chen's attempt to jointhe United Nations under the name of Taiwan.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/468945