Contact in 'transit' with Taiwan official opposed

China is always firmly opposed to official contact in any form between the United States and Taiwan, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said after reports that a senior member of the island's Democratic Progressive Party will transit via the US when visiting Honduras next week.

It was reported that Lai Chingte, the deputy leader of Taiwan, would attend the inauguration of the new Honduran president and was likely to attend the same activities as US Vice-President Kamala Harris, who will also be there for the inauguration ceremony.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a daily news briefing on Thursday that China always firmly opposes the US or other countries that have diplomatic ties with it arranging so-called transits. Reuters reported that Lai will hold virtual meetings with unspecified US politicians during his stopover in the US.

There is only one China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, Zhao said.

"The one-China principle is a universally recognized norm governing international relations and also a common consensus that has been identified, accepted and practiced by a majority of countries in the world," he said.

Any attempt to create "two Chinas" or "one China and one Taiwan" will be rejected by all Chinese people, he added, urging the US to abide by the one-China principle and stipulations of the three joint Sino-US communiques.

"The US should view China's positions and concerns seriously, stop any official contact in any form with Taiwan and refrain from sending any wrong signal to 'Taiwan independence' forces," Zhao said.

"China hopes relevant countries can see the international trend clearly and make decisions in line with the historical trend at an early date," he added.

Zhu Fenglian, a spokeswoman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, China's Cabinet, said such "transits" were another trick played by the DPP to solicit US support for its independence agenda.

No matter what tricks they play and what excuses they make, it cannot change the fact that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, Zhu said.

Efforts to embolden "Taiwan independence" forces would only further damage peace and stability across the Straits, she said.

She warned that those who "played with fire" on the Taiwan question would only burn themselves in the end.