China responds over Gambia cutting Taiwan ties

BEIJING - China on Friday responded over media reports of Gambia breaking off diplomatic ties with Taiwan, saying adherence to the one-China principle is a common understanding of the international community.

Gambia said Thursday it had cut diplomatic relations with Taiwan after 18 years. "This decision has been taken in our strategic national interests," said a statement from President Yahya Jammeh's office, according to media reports.

"We learned the news from foreign media reports. There was no contact between China and Gambia," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a daily news briefing.

"There is only one China in the world. Adherence to the one-China principle is a common understanding of the international community and supporting China to realize peaceful reunification is the general trend of the times," Hong said.