China on Friday lodged strong protest against the Kiribati government establishing "diplomatic relations" with the Taiwan authority.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said Friday night that China has asked the Kiribati government to correct its wrong decision immediately, otherwise it must take full responsibility for all serious consequences.

The Kiribati government announced to set up so-called "diplomatic relations" with the Taiwan authority Friday afternoon, putting aside a long friendly and cooperative relationship between China and Kiribati.

Zhang described the move as "an open betrayal" of the principles of the communique signed between China and Kiribati in 1980 on establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries, and pointed out that it "wantonly interferes in the internal affairs of China".

"We express our extreme indignation and resolute opposition to the move," she said.

China's ambassador to Kiribati has been instructed to make solemn representations and strong protest to the Kiribati government, urging it to observe the principles established in the communique and the memorandum of understanding between China and Kiribati, and to abide by the one-China policy which has been pursued by the past Kiribati governments.

"The government of Kiribati must promptly correct its wrong decision," Zhang said. "Otherwise, it must take full responsibility for all serious consequences resulted from that."

Zhang noted that the Taiwan authority has been practicing an unscrupulous policy of "money diplomacy" in the international community, attempting to create "two Chinas" and "one China, one Taiwan" so as to realize its political goal of "Taiwan Independence".

"Such separatist activities are absolutely futile and unpopular as they have damaged the fundamental interests of all Chinese people including the Taiwan compatriots," Zhang said.

(Xinhua News Agency November 8, 2003)