China protests India's invitation of Taiwan delegation

China has lodged solemn representations to India for the visit of a Taiwan political delegation to New Delhi, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.

China firmly opposes all forms of official contact and exchanges between Taiwan and countries that have diplomatic ties with China, spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular news conference.

China hopes that India sticks to the one-China policy and handles issues related to Taiwan prudently, he said.

Mentioning that India has made a commitment to the Taiwan question, Geng said India should respect and understand China's core interests and maintain the healthy development of China-India relations.

The spokesman's comment is a response to the arrival of a Taiwan lawmaker delegation in New Delhi on Sunday. The Hindu report said that Taiwan is seeking to upgrade "diplomatic ties" with India in the coming weeks, quoting anonymous sources from Taiwan.

Like most countries in the world, India doesn't have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

The one-China policy is respected by major powers. For example, in a 1978 joint communiqué, the US said that it recognized the one-China policy - there is only one China, Taiwan is part of China and the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing China.

In December 2016, the African island nation of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe announced it cut "diplomatic ties" with Taiwan. Currently, 21 countries and governments, mainly small nations and islands in Latin America, Oceania and Africa, rely heavily on economic aid from Taiwan and hold such ties with the island.