TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs slammed Thailand and China Saturday over a joint communique at the end of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s visit to Beijing.

The statement described Taiwan as “an inalienable part of China” and said Thailand supported China’s view of the “one China principle.” Paetongtarn met Chinese leader Xi Jinping (習近平) Thursday, mainly to discuss the involvement of Chinese citizens in fraud rings operating from Myanmar and the construction of a high-speed rail track linking China with Bangkok.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed deep regret that the Thai government played along with China to harm Taiwan’s sovereignty. It also strongly protested China’s repeated statements undermining Taiwan’s international status. The People’s Republic of China has never ruled Taiwan for even one day, and the two countries are not subordinate to each other, the ministry said.

Relations between Taiwan and Thailand have been positive for a long time, so the ministry urged the Thai government to take an open and realistic stance to promote further trade and other exchanges.

In a separate statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned the similar language used in a joint communique after a Thursday meeting between Xi and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei.