China accuses UK of 'gross interference' over Taiwan visit

BEIJING, Dec 02 (Al Jazeera): China has accused a committee of British legislators visiting Taiwan of "gross interference" in its internal affairs and warned that it could be "met with forceful responses".

The ongoing visit to Taiwan by members of the British parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee is a "flagrant violation" of the "one-China principle", the Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom said in a statement posted on Twitter on Thursday.

China claims Taiwan, a democratic self-ruled island, as its own territory and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve its goals. Taiwan rejects China's sovereignty claims.

"The Chinese side urges the UK side to abide by its commitment, stop any actions that violate the one-China principle, and stop interfering in China's internal affairs."