Beijing firmly opposes Taiwan's "foreign minister", Eugene Chien, visiting the United States, and has lodged a serious representation to the US side for permitting the trip.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao spoke Thursday afternoon regarding Chien's visit to attend the 22nd World Forum, and his possible meeting at the forum with US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
The forum will be held in Colorado under the sponsorship of the American Enterprise Institute.
Liu noted that official exchanges between Taiwan and the United States were in violation of the principles enshrined in the three Sino-US joint communiques and the commitment from the US side to abide by the "one China" commitment.
The official exchanges constituted an interference in China's internal affairs, he added.
Liu urged the United States to keep its promises and commitments to China and halt any official exchanges with Taiwan, so as to avoid harming Sino-US relations and cooperation.
(Xinhua News Agency June 19, 2003)
