China's foreign ministry on Monday denied a claim that an employee of the Taipei trade office in Fiji was assaulted by diplomats from the Chinese embassy, calling it a trick of “a thief crying: ‘Stop thief’” and said Fiji should thoroughly investigate the incident.

Quoting the Chinese embassy to Fiji, ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a regular news briefing in Beijing that the Taipei trade office in the Pacific island nation “publicly held the so-called ‘national day’ event on the evening of October 8”.

At the event, the “self-styled flag” and a cake decorated with the image of the “self-styled flag” were displayed, said Zhao, adding that such moves attempting to create “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan” internationally violated the one-China principle and the relevant rules and regulations of the Fijian government.

On the same evening, the staff of the Taipei trade office acted provocatively against Chinese embassy staff members who were carrying out their official duties in the public area outside the venue of the function, causing injuries and damage to one Chinese diplomat, according to the embassy’s statement.

China has expressed concerns to Fiji about the incidents, requesting Fiji to hold the perpetrators accountable according to law and expecting the country to tackle the issue properly, according to the statement.

The Fijian government has been adhering to the one-China principle, and required Taiwan business institutions in Fiji not to use inappropriate names or create “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan” in Fiji’s territory last year, Zhao said, adding that China appreciated such a practice.

CHINA DAILY/ASIA NEWS NETWORK