China 'strongly deplores' US statement on Taiwan
Beijing on Sunday said it strongly deplores a statement by the United States on the Taiwan leadership race.  A spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry said the US statement “sends a gravely wrong signal“. "We strongly deplore and firmly oppose this, and have made serious representations to the US side," the spokesperson said.  They added that Washington's statement "seriously violates the one-China principle" as well as its pledge to only maintain unofficial ties with the island.  "We urge the US to stop its official interaction with Taiwan and stop sending any wrong signal to the separatist forces for 'Taiwan independence,'" the spokesperson said.  The US State Department had congratulated William Lai for finishing first in the island’s leadership race. The Foreign Ministry and Beijing’s embassies around the world this weekend have also warned countries against supporting the Democratic Progressive Party and condemned foreign governments that congratulated Lai. (AFP/Reuters)