Deputy presidential secretary general Chen Chi-mai said the bid would use the name "Taiwan" rather than the official title the "Republic of China."

He also warned China not to sabotage the move, saying that Taiwan is a sovereign country and not part of China.

Beijing has shot down Taiwan's repeated efforts to join the UN over the past 14 years under the name "Republic of China," claiming the island is part of its territory awaiting reunification.

"The (Taipei) government will do all it can to defend our sovereignty, dignity and safety in the face of China's boycott and suppression," Chen told a press conference at the presidential office here.

"Since 1993 our allies had proposed to solve the membership issue (in the UN's General Assembly)... but our modest and rational approach has been rejected. Therefore we are presenting the (different) membership case this year," he said.

But China's foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said it was a "separatist action by Taiwan independence forces aimed at splitting Taiwan from China.