China rejected any foreign interference in Taiwan during a visit by German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock as tensions rise over the issue.

After meeting Ms Baerbock on Friday, her Chinese counterpart Qin Gang told the press that Taiwan is part of China and “China does not allow any intervention from outside.’’

If other states truly respected the One China principle, they should reject separatist activities in Taiwan. 

The “original root of the problems” is the independence aspirations. China will “not give up an inch of territory,” he said.

Ms Baerbock expressed her concerns about the tensions surrounding Taiwan and warned that any destabilisation would have major consequences.

She noted that 50 per cent of global trade passed through the Taiwan Strait.

She said the “shock wave of this economic crisis’’ would also hit China, adding that military escalation around Taiwan would be a horror scenario for the entire world.

“Conflicts must only be resolved peacefully,’’ Ms Baerbock said.

She reiterated Germany’s One China policy, according to which Beijing was recognised as the only legitimate government of China and that Berlin does not maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

Ms Baerbock stressed, however, that a change of the status quo by force would not be acceptable.

China insisted that Taiwan, a self-ruled democracy, was part of its territory, even though Taiwan has had an independent government since 1949.

(dpa/NAN)