China did not mince any words on Wednesday as it condemned Japan's decision to change the name of its de facto embassy in the self-ruled Taiwan. The Japanese government's decision is seen by Beijing as a tactical challenge to its 'One China' policy.    

Japan, which maintains an unofficial relation with Taiwan, disclosed on its official website that it will change the name of its Taiwanese embassy from 'The Interchange Association' to 'Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association'. The new name will be effective from Jan. 1, 2017.

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"We firmly oppose any attempt to create 'two Chinas' or 'one China, one Taiwan', and express strong dissatisfaction with the Japanese side's negative move," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told media.

Hua warned Japan to refrain from sending wrong signals to the Taiwanese government as well as the international community, adding that such signals may cause new disturbances in the Sino-Japan bilateral relation.        

She also called on the Japanese government to abide by the 1972 Sino-Japanese Joint Statement, which categorically stated that Japan understands China's position on the Taiwanese issue and also acknowledges that the island nation is an integral part of the Mainland China.        

The Chinese government has been on a diplomatic mission to pile up pressure on Taiwan ever since the pro-independent leader Tsai Ing-wen assumed office earlier this year. Tsai's consistent challenge to the 'One China' policy left Chinese leadership completely miffed, considerably straining the cross-strait relation.

Last week, China scored a diplomatic triumph on Taiwan by poaching the island nation's African ally Sao Tome. The tiny African island nation was one of the only 22 countries that officially recognized Taiwan.

The Taiwanese government accused Beijing of using "dollar diplomacy" in securing Sao Tome's support.   

Tagschina, China and Taiwan, China and Japan, Cross-Strait relation, Japan