TAIPEI, Nov 27, 2007 (AFP) - Taiwan's foreign ministry said Tuesday it was surprised by French President Nicolas Sarkozy's statement that he opposed plans for a referendum in the island on UN membership.

Taiwan foreign minister James Huang lodged a complaint Tuesday with France's de facto ambassador to Taipei, Jean-Claude Poimboeuf.

"What President Sarkozy said while meeting Chinese President Hu Jintao, that he opposed Taiwan's planned referendum, surprised us and we felt regret about it," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

The comments came one day after Sarkozy, on a state visit to China, said France backed Beijing's one-China policy that the mainland and Taiwan are one country despite moves toward independence by Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian.

"Any unilateral initiative is ineffective and unjustified, notably plans for a referendum in Taiwan," the French leader said in talks with Hu.

Undeterred by opposition from China and Taiwan ally the United States, Chen appears determined to push ahead with the politically sensitive referendum on UN membership for the island.

Chen's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is pushing for the controversial vote -- seen as a potential first step towards independence -- to be held alongside the March 22 presidential elections.

France does not recognise Taiwan, which Beijing regards as part of its territory awaiting to be reunified by force if necessary. The two sides split at the end of a civil war in 1949.

"As democracy, freedom and human rights has been the spirit since the founding of France, and referendum is the core value of democracy... we therefore cannot understand why President Sarkozy made such remarks," the foreign ministry said.

Taiwan, under its official name the Republic of China, lost its UN seat to China in 1971 and is now only recognised diplomatically by 24 countries.

Taipei's latest attempt to join the UN -- for the first time in the name of Taiwan -- was blocked by Beijing in September. Its previous 14 attempts to rejoin using its official title have been repeatedly shot down by Beijing.