Independence for Montenegrins, citizens of a Balkan state who voted by 55.4 per cent May 21st in a referendum to officially separate from Serbia, is totally different from the Taiwan Question a Foreign Ministry spokesman said in Beijing at a routine news briefing on May 30, in a quick response to international speculation concerning Beijing's thorny relations with Taiwan.

"There is only one China in the world and Taiwan is a part of China," Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said at the briefing.

His remarks came after Montenegrins voted for independence through a national referendum, which severs an almost century-old union with Serbia and closes the final chapter in the story of Yugoslavian communism.

The referendum has sparked international speculations as to whether Taiwan will vote for independence through a national referendum.

US officials have commented that citizens in some countries can vote for independence of their own free will, but have not offered any names.

"The Chinese government respects the result of the Montenegrin referendum and the will of their people," Liu says, adding that the government is taking a close look at further developments in the region.

Liu also says Beijing urges the international community to stick to the One China policy.