China-Taiwan
Taiwan alleges its official was hurt by Chinese diplomats during skirmish in Fiji
Taiwan's foreign ministry has alleged that Chinese diplomats injured a Taiwanese official at an event in the southern Pacific island nation of Fiji, media reports said.
The Chinese government claims that one of its diplomats was attacked and injured at the site, NHK reported.
The incident reportedly occurred on Oct 8 in Fiji where Taiwan's representative office was hosting an event to mark Taiwan's national day in a hotel.
Taiwanese ministry officials say two uninvited officials from the Chinese Embassy appeared and tried to take pictures of participants, and violently attacked a Taiwanese official who tried to stop them. They say the official was taken to hospital with a head injury, reports NHK.
Reacting to the incident, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters on Monday: "First of all, there are no 'Taiwanese diplomats' in Fiji. Fiji has long been committed to the correct position of the one-China principle, and in 2019 asked Taiwan's trade office in Fiji to not use the self-styled name or pursue the 'one China, one Taiwan' or 'two Chinas' approach in Fiji. China applauds Fiji for that."
"The report you cited is totally untrue, and Taiwan was like a thief calling 'stop the thief'. The Taiwanese institution in Fiji blatantly displayed the self-styled flag, and its cake was also decorated with a self-styled flag. The Chinese Embassy to Fiji already published a statement on this matter. China also asked Fiji to have a thorough investigation on it. Fiji said it attached high importance to China's concerns and would stick to the one-China principle and properly settle it," he said.
"We have expressed our serious concerns to the Fijian side about the above incidents, requesting the country to carry out thorough investigation into the incident and hold the perpetrators of the Taiwan region accountable according to law. We believe Fiji will settle this issue in a just and proper manner," the Chinese official said.
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