The Chinese government yesterday expressed indignation on the resumption of "diplomatic relations" between St. Lucia and Taiwan.

Opposing the move, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said that it was a flagrant violation of the declaration on the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and St. Lucia.

The government sees the move as interference in China's internal affairs, and the country's embassy in St. Lucia has already lodged a strong protest against it, Liu said.

The government has instructed the embassy to urge the St. Lucian government to honor the principle of the joint declaration on the establishment of diplomatic links in 1997. The embassy will request St. Lucia to return to the rightful stance of recognizing one-China, he said.

"Otherwise, the government of St. Lucia will be responsible for the consequences."?

The Taiwan authority's attempt to pursue "money diplomacy" and create "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan" does not enjoy the support of the international community and will never succeed, Liu said.

Taiwan announced yesterday that it had "re-established ties" with the Caribbean nation, with "vice-foreign minister" Yang Tzu-bao saying: "The two governments (of St. Lucia and Taiwan) decided to restore full diplomatic relations from today."

Besides St. Lucia, Taiwan maintains "diplomatic ties" with 24 countries, mostly small and impoverished nations in Latin America, the South Pacific and Africa.

WHO bid fails

In another development, Taiwan failed again to join the World Health Organization (WHO) because statehood is an essential condition for its membership.

The WHO Secretary's Office rejected the island's application on Friday, agreeing with Beijing that the Chinese island could not be a member because it is not a sovereign nation.

Taiwan's requests to get a WHO observer status have been rejected for the past 10 years.

(Xinhua News Agency May 2, 2007)