BEIJING, May 1 (UPI) -- China Tuesday attacked the resumption of Taiwan-Saint Lucia diplomatic ties, saying the Caribbean nation will be liable for "consequences incurred."
In a strongly worded statement, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said his government had instructed its embassy to request Saint Lucia to return to what it regards as the rightful stance of recognizing only one China, the state-owned Xinhua news agency reported.
"Otherwise, the government of Saint Lucia will be fully responsible for the consequences incurred," Liu said. He did not say what those consequences would entail.
Liu said the resumption of the ties with Taiwan "constituted interference in the internal affairs of China."
On April 26, Taiwan announced the resumption of ties 10 years after the Caribbean state, under a new government, broke them to recognize China. Prior to 1997, the two countries had ties dating back to 1984.
Liu also said Taiwan's attempts to pursue "money diplomacy" and create "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan" had no support in the international community.
