China expects the EU's newly-opened trade office in Taiwan to stick to economics and refrain from political and diplomatic activities, state media said yesterday.
"China expects the European Commission to strictly adhere to its previously stated commitment that the office would not engage in any political and diplomatic activities," foreign ministry spokesman Kong Quan said, according to the China Daily.
He also said China expected the office to refrain from developing "any form of official relations with Taiwan," according to the paper.
The reaction came after the EU announced it had opened an office charged with building up bilateral ties in trade, investment, economic cooperation, research and education.
Taiwan is the EU's third largest commercial partner in Asia, and 12 of the 15 EU members operate a trade office in Taipei, although none of them recognizes Taiwan.
Taiwan has invited the EU to set up an office since 1991, and the EU parliament has repeatedly passed resolutions calling for strengthening of ties with Taipei.
The EU appeared to have expected Chinese jitters, trying to pre-empt them in a statement saying its office would not engage in relations of a diplomatic or political nature in line with the EU's "one China" policy.
China's new leader Hu Jintao (
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