TAIPEI - PRESIDENT Ma Ying-jeou said on Tuesday his measured approach to rival China has led to Taiwan's participation at a UN body for the first time in 38 years while not compromising his island's sovereignty.

Mr Ma's remarks came a day after the island's health minister was seated as an observer at the annual meeting of the World Health Assembly, the decision-making authority of the World Health Organisation.

It was Taiwan's first appearance at a United Nations forum since the China seat at the world body was transferred from Taipei to Beijing in 1971. It came after extensive negotiations between Taiwan and the mainland, and is widely seen as a victory for Mr Ma's China engagement program, the hallmark of his yearlong presidency.

Speaking to reporters in Taipei, Mr Ma said that the wide-ranging series of economic agreements Taiwan has signed with the mainland since taking office did not compromise the island's sovereignty or imply recognition of China's formula for achieving unity across the Taiwan Strait.

'Over the past year, we've signed nine agreements with the mainland,' he said, referring to pacts covering subjects like aviation links and postal services. 'None of them responded to their 'one country, two systems,' none of them supported their version of the one-China policy.' 'One country, two systems' refers to the special formula by which Hong Kong is ruled after it was handed to China 12 years ago.

Taiwan and China split amid civil war in 1949. The communist mainland still claims the democratic island as part of its territory and seeks to unify, by persuasion if possible, by force if necessary. In the past it has offered to safeguard Taiwan's political system as an inducement for bringing it back into the fold.

Mr Ma lauded Taiwan's appearance at this year's WHA forum in Geneva, saying it came because of his measured approach to Beijing. That approach contrasts sharply with that of his predecessor, who pushed for full Taiwanese membership in the United Nations as part of his pro-independence program.

'Our pragmatism and flexibility in handling the (WHA) issue has won the respect and sympathy of many countries,' Mr Ma said. 'That's our source of gaining dignity. If we'd used the tactic of confrontation, we would have been considered a troublemaker.'

Mr Ma's China approach has been roundly condemned by the opposition Democratic Progressive Party, which lost power in last year's presidential elections. -- AP