Beijing has raised objections to the move by the European Parliament to build closer trade ties with Taiwan, which the Chinese government has long considered a renegade province following a civil war.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said today that Beijing considers Taiwan part of its domestic affairs and that it should be free from foreign interference.
Hua said China does not object to nongovernmental contact between the European Union and Taiwan, but that it opposes the development of any official ties.
The European Parliament on Tuesday approved a resolution on EU-Taiwan trade relations, urging its executive body to begin bilateral talks over an agreement on investment protection and market access.
The EU is Taiwan's fourth-largest trade partner, and Taiwan is the EU's seventh-largest trade partner in Asia.
