Beijing criticises South Korea for inviting Taiwan to democracy summit

China lashed out at South Korea on Monday for hosting the Summit for Democracy and inviting Taiwan to take part in the conference.

South Korea is hosting the third democracy summit, an initiative of US President Joe Biden, which began on Monday. Similar to previous two editions, Beijing was excluded while a Taiwanese official has been invited to deliver an online message.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said that the summit was using democracy as an “instrument and weapon” to draw a line based on ideology, and that China “firmly opposes” the host country’s invitation of Taiwan.

“What the world needs today is not creating divide in the name of democracy,” Lin said at a press conference.

“China sternly urges the South Korean side to abide by the one-China principle and stop providing a podium to the Taiwan independence forces,” he said.

Lin accused Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party of “seeking to expand the space for Taiwan independence under the guise of democracy and human rights” in participating in the event, saying such attempts would “only bring shame to themselves and are doomed to failure”.

He repeated that Taiwan is an inseparable part of the Chinese territory, and the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China.

Beijing considers Taiwan as a part of China and to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the US and South Korea, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-governed island by force and has stepped up support to Taiwan politically and militarily as its relationship with Beijing frays.

The Summit for Democracy began in 2021 and the second