The Taiwanese government is upbeat over reports that the US has told the UN that a statement by Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon saying the island was a part of the People's Republic of China was unacceptable.
But it is also nervously watching a meeting between President George W. Bush and President Hu Jintao today to see if Mr Bush will criticise Taipei's defiance of Washington's warning against holding a referendum on joining the United Nations as 'Taiwan'.
Quoting unnamed US administration sources, major Taiwanese media yesterday reported that Washington had written to the UN headquarters to say it could not accept statements by Mr Ban and his office that the island was a part of the People's Republic of China.
The US objection came after Mr Ban rejected an application in July by Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian to join the global body as 'Taiwan' rather than its official 'Republic of China' title on the grounds that 'Taiwan is a part of the PRC'.
Citing resolution 2758, Mr Ban said Taiwan was not qualified to join because it was not a state but part of the PRC. The statement rocked Taipei and triggered concern from Washington.
Taiwanese media said Washington wrote to the UN and presented a nine-point statement on the US stance towards the issue and its long-standing position that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait should resolve their disputes peacefully and with the people's consent.
Washington also said Mr Ban's remarks were not the consensus of the majority of UN members and was also not the US viewpoint.