China returns Taiwan mail over UN slogan

By Associated Press | via (uncensored) Yahoo! News
November 14, 2007

China is stamping return to sender on mail from Taiwan postmarked with a slogan supporting the island's bid to join the United Nations.

Taiwan's post office began putting a "U.N. for Taiwan" postmark on selected items of outgoing mail six weeks ago.

Letters and parcels bearing that slogan and one saying "Taiwan joining the United Nations" were being returned as a protest against alleged independence activities by the government of Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian, according to Fan Liqing of China's Taiwan Affairs Council.

Liu Te-shun of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council -- the Cabinet-level body in charge of implementing China policy -- said China's action contravened international mail practice.

"It is common for countries to stamp commemorative slogans on mail," he said.

Since their split amid civil war nearly 60 years ago, Taiwan and China have confronted each other angrily across the 100-mile Taiwan Strait.

China regards the democratic island as part of its territory and has threatened to attack if it formalizes its de facto independence

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