BEIJING, May 1 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government on
Tuesday expressed indignation and opposition to the resumption of "diplomatic
relations" between St. Lucia and Taiwan and requested St. Lucia to immediately
correct the wrongful decision.
The Taiwan regime announced Tuesday that it has
resumed "diplomatic relations" with St. Lucia.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said in a
statement that the resumption of "diplomatic relations" between St. Lucia and
Taiwan was a flagrant violation of the declaration on the establishment of
diplomatic relations between China and St. Lucia.
It also constituted interference in the internal
affairs of China, Liu said.
China established diplomatic links with St. Lucia in
1997. The Caribbean island nation has a total area of 616 square kilometers and
a population of 170,000.
Liu called on the government of St. Lucia to
"immediately correct the wrongful decision of resuming so called 'diplomatic
relations' with the Taiwan regime."
He said the ambassador of China to St. Lucia had
already lodged a strong protest to the government of St. Lucia.
He said the government had instructed the embassy to
request the St. Lucian government live up to the principles of the communique
that the two countries issued on the establishment of diplomatic links in 1997.
It also instructed the embassy to request St. Lucia
return to the rightful stance of recognizing one-China.
"Otherwise, the government of St. Lucia will be fully
responsible for the consequences incurred," Liu said.
Liu said the Taiwan authority's attempts to pursue
"money diplomacy" and create "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan" had no
support in the international community and would not succeed.
In earlier development, the Chinese Foreign Ministry
has repeatedly announced concern over St. Lucia's inclination to develop
official links with Taiwan, which the international community recognizes as
inseparable part of China.
Last Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu
Jianchao called on the government of Saint Lucia to abide by the one-China
policy.
On March 27, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang
voiced strong discontentment and diametrical opposition to the St. Lucian
government's decision on inviting so called "foreign minister" of the Taiwan
regime to visit the country.
It is reported that the "foreign minister" of the
Taiwan region is now in St. Lucia.
In response to a question that certain countries want
to buy retired fighter jets from the Taiwan regime, Qin said the Chinese
government firmly opposes any country with diplomatic links with China to
conduct military exchanges with Taiwan.