China warns Caribbean leaders

A top Chinese government official has sent a strong warning to Caribbean governments that Beijing will not compromise on its One China Policy.



Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Li Jinzhang, said China does not recognise Taiwan as an independent state and will do all in its power to uphold national sovereignty and promote its territorial integrity.



Up until last year, St. Lucia was among a number of regional countries, which supported the One China policy.



It however opted to break ties with mainland China in favour of relations with Taiwan last year, joining other independent regional states including Belize, Haiti, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.



The comments by the Chinese official came ahead of an official visit by the Barbados Prime Minister David Thompson to China on May 5.