China strongly opposes the United States' support of Taiwan to participate in the World Health Organization, said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue in Beijing Tuesday.

At a regular press briefing, she was asked to comment on the fact that US President George W. Bush signed the bill the US parliament has passed that supports Taiwan to participate in the WHO, and made a statement via the White House, saying that the policy of one-China that the US government holds does not change.

Zhang said the Chinese side has made solemn representation to the US side on this bill. "We strongly opposed the US side signing the improper bill in spite of China's stance."

Taiwan is one part of China, she said, and according to related UN resolution and WHO rules, it is not eligible to participate in the WHO or attend any WHO activities as an observer.

On May 17, the 57th World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted with an overwhelming majority in Geneva a decision not to include on the agenda a proposal put forward by the Solomon Islands and a few other countries to invite Taiwan to participate in the WHA as an observer.

"This shows that the international community has a broad consensus and clear attitude on this issue," said Zhang.

The Chinese central government has always cared for the health of the Taiwan compatriots and tried to help Taiwan to exchange andcooperate with the WHO with a proper status, Zhang said, adding that an example is that the central government put out four proposals on this regard in the 57th WHA.

"This eloquently demonstrates the sincerity and constructive attitude of the central government and that the channel of Taiwan gaining health information is smooth," the spokeswoman acknowledged.

She went on to note that the intention of the Taiwan authority to participate in the WHO is to create "two Chinas" and "one China,one Taiwan."

"This attempt will not prevail," she said.

She prompted the US government to conform to the international opinions, see the political attempt of Taiwan authority clearly, adhere to the one-China policy, abiding by the three China-US communiques.

The spokeswoman urged the United States to stop supporting Taiwan to participate in the WHO. "Otherwise, it will impair the development of China-US relations," the spokeswoman said.

In a presidential statement issued on the same day, Bush asked the Executive to "construe the Act to be consistent with the one-China policy of the United States, which remains unchanged, and determine the measures best suited to advance the overall goal of Taiwan participation in the World Health Organization."