China opposes U S stopover for Taiwan's Chen

BEIJING/TAIPEI, Jan 8 (Reuters) China criticised the United States today for allowing Taiwan's head of state to make a stopover en route to Central America, saying President Chen Shui-bian was trying to damage Sino-U S ties.

''The Chinese side opposes the United States and the Taiwan authorities having any form of official dealings,'' Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said in a statement on the ministry's Web site (www.fmprc.gov.cn).

''We express serious concern about related reports,'' Liu said, refering to Chen's layover in California on the way to attend the swearing in of Nicaraguan President-elect Daniel Ortega.

''We have made serious representations to the U S side.'' Chen will stay overnight in San Francisco today before leaving for Nicaragua, one of the island's few diplomatic allies.

''What should be pointed out is that the real aim of Chen Shui-bian's 'transit stop' in the United States is to carry out activities whose purpose is to split China and damage Sino-US relations,'' Liu added.

China and Taiwan have faced off since 1949 when defeated Nationalist forces fled to the island at the end of a civil war with the Communists. China regards the island as a breakaway province.

China discourages diplomatic contacts with Taiwan that might be seen as even tacit recognition of its government.

It is particularly opposed to visits by Taiwan leaders to the United States.

Chen landed for several hours in the U S territory of Guam in September 2006 during a South Pacific tour.

Reuters PDM DB1158