The year 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the People's Republic of China restoring its rightful seat at the United Nations. China is both a founding member of the UN and a permanent member of the UN Security Council. And since its founding in 1949, the People's Republic, has been the sole legitimate representative of China and thus a member of the UN and all its affiliated organizations.

Yet the United States objected to New China occupying its rightful seat at the UN for 22 years, saying the restoration of its lawful seat at the world body should be approved by at least two-thirds of the UN member states, because it had a far greater say in the UN during those years.

Until July 15, 1971, 18 countries including Albania and Algeria kept writing to U Thant, then UN secretary-general to allow China to restore its rightful seat in the world body. They requested that China's restoring its rightful seat be taken up as an urgent issue and it was listed on the agenda of the 26th Session of the UN General Assembly. Three months later, on Oct 25, Beijing restored its rightful place at the UN.

But since 1993, the Taiwan authorities have been pushing for the island's representation at the UN, especially during the annual General Assembly sessions. Needless to say, their moves have been vetoed by the General Committee of the UN General Assembly.

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan made a similar attempt at the General Assembly session this year but in a more provocative way. The pro-independence DPP published articles worldwide, held seminars at the UN Headquarters in New York City, and egged civil society groups to file petitions to advance its pro-independence agenda. And by promising its political partners big gains, it prompted them to raise the demand for Taiwan's representation in the UN.

Taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic, the DPP has been boasting of containing the novel coronavirus while claiming that the risk of infections around the world would increase if the island was kept out of the UN. "Taiwan can help" contain the spread of the virus worldwide, the DPP has claimed.

Not surprisingly, all the DPP's attempts have met with failure. Taiwan, as an integral part of China, is ineligible to be a member of the UN. Behind the DPP's pursuit of UN membership is the goal of achieving "Taiwan independence", which is impossible because Taiwan and the Chinese mainland are part of one China.

Resolution 2758 of the UN General Assembly on Oct 25, 1971, which expelled the Taiwan representative from the global organization, was clear in letter and spirit. So any proposal of including Taiwan in the UN would be against the UN Charter, and will be rejected by the overwhelming majority of the UN member states.

Since the Taiwan authorities have not succeeded in their dirty designs, and never will, why is the DPP hellbent on investing resources in this impossibility?

The DPP still believes in the illusion of "Taiwan independence". The tense Sino-US relations have prompted Washington to play the "Taiwan card" more frequently against Beijing. And at the instigation of the White House, the pro-independence DPP has become more reckless in opposing the 1992 Consensus that there is only one China and the People's Republic of China is its sole legal representative.

The fact is, both sides of the Taiwan Straits belong to one China, and form the foundation for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and the Chinese people have resolved and have the capability to achieve this goal. Since most of the countries around the world recognize the one-China principle, the DPP's attempt to join the UN as an independent entity is bound to fail.

This year also marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and the 110th anniversary of the 1911 Revolution. For most of the past 5,000 years, the Chinese nation has been united, and the pursuit of reunification shows why the Chinese civilization is the only continuous civilization in the world, and reunification and national rejuvenation are the trend of the times.

The Taiwan question will be solved with national rejuvenation. So separatists trying to split the country, by pursuing UN's membership, are going against the trend of history and the cause of national rejuvenation. The Chinese nation is on the way to realizing reunification and rejuvenation, and counter-moves, particularly those in collusion with foreign forces, are doomed to failure.

The author is a professor at the Institute of Taiwan Studies, Beijing Union University.

The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

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