Chinese diplomat urges UK to end official contacts with Taiwan

Beijing calls on London to stop official contacts with the Taipei administration, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a briefing on Monday, commenting on a visit to Taiwan by UK Minister of State Greg Hands.

"We call on the UK to respect the sovereignty of China, strictly observe the 'one China' principle and stop all official contacts with Taiwan," Zhao Lijian said. He also added that London should not send false signals to Taiwanese separatists who advocate the island's independence.

The UK government said on Monday that Minister of State Greg Hands had left for Taiwan on a two-day visit during which he would meet with the island's head of administration, Tsai Ing-wen.