The General Committee of the UN General Assembly decided Tuesday at its 60th session not to include into the draft agenda the so-called "question of the representation of 23 million people of Taiwan in the UN" and "a proactive role of the United Nations in maintaining peace in the Taiwan Straits."

    The General Assembly has, for the 13th consecutive time, thwarted Taiwan's attempt to join the world inter-governmental body composed of sovereign states.

    The decision was announced by Jan Eliasson, president of the current session of the UN General Assembly, after a short debate on the issue, raised by Chad and a few other countries.

    Addressing the session, Zhang Yishan, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, said the question of Taiwan is purely an internal affair of China, and should be settled jointly by the Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits.

    "No foreign force has the right to interfere," Zhang added.

    He also stressed that the Anti-Secession Law is a law of peace aimed at preserving state sovereignty and territorial integrity, seeking peaceful reunification and preventing, to the greatest extent, unfortunate situation from happening between the two sides.

    "The Chinese government and people strongly urge Chad and a very few other countries to stop doing anything further to support the secessionist activities in the name of 'Taiwan independence' and hurt the feelings of the Chinese people," Zhang said.

    Pakistan's UN Ambassador Munir Akram also addressed the General Committee session in favor of China's position not to consider the issue.

    He said raising the issue of Taiwan's representation in the United Nations constituted a violation of UN Charter and an interference in China's internal affairs.

    Akram stressed that China's Anti-Secession Law is a domestic law, which does not pose a threat to the international security.