China says Taiwan has no right to join UN after US support

China on Wednesday said Taiwan has no right to join the United Nations after Secretary of State Antony Blinken indicated U.S. support for the move the previous day.

“Taiwan has no right to join the United Nations,” Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing, said, Agence France-Presse reported.

“The United Nations is an international governmental organisation composed of sovereign states. … Taiwan is a part of China,” Xiaoguang added. 

Although the Biden administration says it still recognizes the “One China” policy, tensions between the U.S. and China have grown over Taiwan and the democratically-run island’s sovereignty.

Blinken said the U.S.’s support for “Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the UN system” is a “pragmatic” issue and not a political issue. 

“The fact that Taiwan participated robustly in certain UN specialized agencies for the vast majority of the past 50 years is evidence of the value the international community places in Taiwan’s contributions,” Blinken said.

Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu and other Taiwan top officials welcomed the U.S.’s support for Taiwan to be included in the U.N, according to AFP.

“We’ll continue to fight for our rights in international organisations,” Wu said.

Wu also noted the growing tensions with China, saying the situation is “growing more dangerous.”

President Biden said during a town hall last week the U.S. would be ready to come to Taiwan’s defense if China invaded the island.

China has long maintained the island is under its control and has promised reunification in the future.