Washington, Sept. 14 (CNA) A Taiwanese delegation campaigning for the country's membership in the United Nations staged a demonstration outside the Chinese embassy in the United States Thursday, demanding that Beijing stop barring Taiwan from the global organization.

The 25-member team from the Taiwan United Nations Alliance (TAIUNA) also urged Beijing to release Taiwanese human rights activist Lee Ming-che, who is awaiting sentencing in China on charges of subversion of state power.

According to TAIUNA President Michael Tsai, the Chinese government is the biggest barricade blocking Taiwan from the U.N. and other international organizations.

Also, Beijing is trying to intimidate the Taiwanese people by putting Lee under arrest, he said.

The Republic of China has been excluded from the U.N. since losing its seat to the People's Republic of China in 1971.

The TAIUNA delegation arrived in New York last week in an annual campaign to promote Taiwan's U.N. bid.