The Chinese government has once again rejected a renewed bid by Taiwan authorities for participation in the World Health Organization (WHO), saying that membership in the body should be limited to sovereign states.

Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian, in a videoconference with European health officials on Friday, pressed the case for observer status in the World Health Assembly and participation in other specific mechanisms of the WHO.

"The WHO is a special institution of the United Nations that can be joined only by sovereign states," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said in a statement posted on the ministry's Web site (www.mfa.gov.cn).

Liu said that, given an existing framework for allowing Taiwanese health experts' participation in certain WHO technical activities, no "missing links" arose from Taiwan's current level of participation in the body.

He said that, in putting forward Taiwan-related proposals at the World Health Assembly, Taiwanese authorities had used the excuse of health issues to support "secessionist activities".

"Such a political attempt will not succeed," Liu said.