China Accuses UK of Violating International Ties

On Sunday, the Chinese Embassy in London denounced a meeting last week between UK Secretary of State for Security Tom Tugendhat and Taiwan's Minister for Digital Affairs, saying it violated international relations.

Reuters reported on Friday that Tugendhat met Digital Affairs Minister Audrey Tang on Wednesday during a rare high-level visit to Britain.

China considers democratically governed Taiwan part of its territory and strongly objects to perceived foreign interference on the island.

"This move seriously violates the one-China principle and basic norms of international relations," a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in London said in a statement.

Britain maintains formal diplomatic relations with Beijing, but maintains a de facto embassy in Taipei. Although British ministers of state hold talks with their Taiwanese counterparts, it is usual for British ministers not to meet with Taiwanese officials.

Tugendhat, who was sanctioned by China two years ago for speaking out about alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang, is not a cabinet minister; however, he attends cabinet meetings as a minister of state for security responsible for combating terrorism, domestic threats, and economic crimes.