The Chinese government on Tuesday expressed indignation and opposition to the resumption of "diplomatic relations" between St. Lucia and Taiwan and request St. Lucia to immediately correct the wrongful decision.

The Taiwan regime announced Tuesday that it has resumed "diplomatic relations" with St. Lucia.

Chinese 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 communiqué 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.

(Xinhua News Agency May 2, 2007)